We closed this semester with a truly memorable program: as members of the Pécs 2 group, we took part in a guided tour of the Pécs Zoo. Already in the first few minutes, it turned out that you can not only see animals here, but also hear amazing, sometimes quite amusing stories about them.
For instance, we learned that there is a so-called “fasting day” in the zoo, and it was also revealed that big cats and small cats are not distinguished based on their size. The answer is much more complicated than that – and much more interesting!
The ring-tailed lemurs achieved the greatest success. During the lemur lesson, visitors can enter their enclosure and even feed them from their hands. In lemur society, matriarchy still rules today, meaning females have the final say. It seems this system works perfectly for them.
The endangered red ruffed lemurs were not left out of the presentation either. It praises the zoo staff’s sense of humor that the two prosimians were named Coco and Nut. The Bengal tiger did not prove its legendary hunting abilities this time: it preferred to stretch lazily in the sunshine. Its cubs, Szerényke and Lukrécia, however, were all the more active in exploring the world.
One of the visitors’ favorites was Nikolai, the brown bear. We found out that he almost adores chocolate buns and chimney cake. However, let no one be deceived by his sweet appearance: his ten-centimeter claws command serious respect.
One of the most entertaining characters in the history of the zoo was undoubtedly the first chimpanzee, who was rescued from a circus. According to legend, he consumed up to a liter of red wine per week. However, an even greater problem was caused by his habit of regularly stealing the keepers’ keys, then escaping, and freeing his companions along his way. No wonder he was a walking challenge for the keepers.
The children’s clear favorite was the feeding of the hippos. Bálint, the 3.5-ton male, and Ágnes, the 2.5-ton female, threw themselves into the delicacies with a huge appetite. As a surprising fact, we heard that the closest relatives of hippos are none other than cetaceans (whales and dolphins). They spend up to 30–40 minutes underwater while communicating with each other in sounds that the human ear cannot detect.
There were plenty of surprises in the world of birds as well. Grey parrots, for example, are true masters of imitation. They perfectly copy not only bird sounds but also the sounds of modern technology. They regularly play pranks on their keeper by imitating the Messenger notification sound. And to the ringing of the phone, a well-timed “Hello!” is often the answer. Their romantic side is not negligible either: they choose a partner for life, which, with a life expectancy of 70–80 years, means a truly respectable loyalty.
During the tour, we also met imperial eagles that were rescued while injured and now live in the safety of the zoo. And about owls, we learned that they can turn their heads up to 270 degrees. The reason for this is that their eyes are not spherical like a human’s, but rather resemble a telescope.
By the end of the guided tour, we all agreed that the Pécs Zoo is not merely a collection of animals, but also a home to stories, special destinies, and exciting scientific curiosities. If you would also like to meet Django, Nikolai, Coco, or the mischievous grey parrots, definitely sign up for a guided tour!
We certainly returned home enriched with a wealth of experiences, new knowledge, and many, many smiles.
Henriett Rang, mentor
