Zoo Ostrava opens new Amphibiarium pavilion for amphibians

Zoo Ostrava has officially opened the Amphibiarium, a new specialized pavilion dedicated to amphibians. Located near the zoo entrance, the facility features a black-and-yellow design inspired by salamander coloration and contains approximately 40 different species, including frogs, salamanders, and newts, housed within roughly 40 distinct biotopes.

The project, which began construction in January 2025, cost over 55 million CZK. Funding was provided by the City of Ostrava, which contributed more than 26 million CZK for the first stage, while the zoo covered approximately 30 million CZK.

The pavilion aims to highlight the vulnerability of amphibians, which serve as vital ecosystem indicators. According to the IUCN Red List, nearly half of all known amphibian species are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, water pollution, climate change, and infectious diseases such as chytridiomycosis. To prevent the spread of disease, zoo director Jiří Novák noted that all incoming animals underwent strict quarantine protocols before being moved into the shared facility.