How Liberec Zoo became a global leader in bird of prey conservation
Liberec Zoo, established in 1904, is the oldest zoological garden in Czechia. Spanning 14 hectares, it houses over 170 animal species and plays a vital role in research, breeding, and conservation both locally and internationally. The zoo is especially known for its long-standing work with birds of prey. With the most experienced raptor team among Czech zoos, Liberec has become a key player in international efforts to protect endangered species.
Ruth Fraňková spoke with zoologist and bird specialist Jan Hanel about the zoo’s mission, the challenges of breeding large raptors, and the conservation successes that continue to drive their work.
One of the key projects or one of the focuses of the zoo here in Liberec is the breeding and protection of some of the most endangered birds of prey. How did the zoo become involved in these efforts?
"Yes, you're right. It's a really long story, because we started back in the 1970s, when people—especially in Europe and the USA—began to realize there was a serious problem with birds of prey. Populations were declining rapidly.
"That was the time we built some aviaries and began to focus mainly on large birds of prey such as eagles and vultures. That’s how it all started."
“One of our main and most important species is the bearded vulture. It's a really remarkable bird that lives in European mountain ranges like the Alps and the Pyrenees.”
Nowadays, what are some of the species that you focus on?
"We are now focusing mainly on large vultures, such as the bearded vulture and the cinereous vulture, as well as several others.
"We keep many vultures from Africa, but our main and most important species is the bearded vulture. It's a really remarkable bird that lives in European mountain ranges like the Alps and the Pyrenees.
"In Europe, the species was almost extinct about 100 years ago. But since the 1980s, there’s been a reintroduction program, and we’ve been part of that. All of our chicks here at Liberec Zoo are being released back into the wild.
"I can say it’s been a very successful project. After 40 years, if you go to the Alps, Pyrenees, or even parts of the Balkans, you can see bearded vultures soaring again. If you're lucky, you might even see a pair with a chick. That’s the goal of what we’re doing."
So what was the most difficult aspect of breeding this species in the zoo, not in the wild, but in these conditions?
"With large birds of prey, there are two main challenges. The first is that it takes a very long time for young birds to reach sexual maturity. In the case of bearded vultures, it can take up to ten years before they even begin trying to breed. So time is our first enemy, I’d say.
"The second challenge is forming compatible pairs. Sometimes, the birds just don't like each other. And if you don’t have another suitable bird to match, you have to find a workaround. That’s where we rely on artificial insemination techniques.
"You collect semen from the male and inject it into the female's oviduct. These are the two main issues. But fortunately, these techniques are now well developed for most species, and breeding success has improved."
So that's a success story as you said. What about another species that you focus on, which is the Philippine eagle? Can you tell us more about this particular species?
"Yes, exactly. Because we’ve developed a lot of techniques here in Liberec Zoo with our keepers and experts involved in captive breeding of birds of prey, we’re now trying to share that knowledge with others.
"One of our key international projects is helping with the restoration of the Philippine eagle. This is one of the largest eagles and birds of prey in the world, and sadly, it’s also the most endangered eagle species. The current estimate is that only around 400 pairs remain in the wild.
"This species is very difficult to breed. They mature slowly—reaching sexual maturity around six to ten years of age—and they lay only one egg every other year. So, even if you’re lucky, you might get a chick just once every two years.
"Captive-held birds are getting older, and breeding success is still low. So we went to the Philippines to help. One of the techniques we introduced is cooperative artificial insemination. This means the male eagle voluntarily provides semen, which is then voluntarily accepted by the female. It’s tricky—but it works.
"Last breeding season, four eggs were laid. Three were fertile, and possibly the fourth as well, but it was broken by the female right after laying. From the three fertile eggs, we successfully hatched two chicks.
"Right now we’re helping the Philippine Eagle Foundation, the NGO we work with, to find funding for new aviaries. They are building a new breeding station, hopefully in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of Mount Apo, the largest mountain range on the southern island of Mindanao. With this new facility, we hope for even greater success in the future."
What drove these birds to the brink of extinction?
"Humans—as always—because we are the biggest threat to wildlife and nature worldwide. In this case, the main problem has been deforestation in the Philippines.
"Historically, the country was almost entirely covered in ancient tropical forest. But due to widespread deforestation, driven by commercial interests and agriculture, much of that habitat has been destroyed.
"The Philippine eagle simply lost the space it needs to survive. The good news is that there are now reforestation efforts underway. Hopefully, in the future, there will be more habitat for the eagle and many other species.
"The Philippine eagle is not only the most endangered eagle—it’s also an umbrella species, because it’s an apex predator. If you protect it, you’re protecting the whole ecosystem it depends on. That’s why focusing on this species means saving a significant part of the natural environment."
What about the approach of the local people? As the name of the bird suggests, it's actually the national bird of the Philippines. What is their approach to its protection? Do they realize how serious the situation is?
"Yes, absolutely. The Philippine eagle is the national bird of the Philippines. It even appears on their currency—there’s a portrait of a male eagle on the money.
"Filipinos are very proud of this bird, and they really want to help protect it. The Philippine Eagle Foundation also works closely with indigenous groups, which is extremely important.
"These groups still live in the remaining rainforest, and they like the bird and help with its protection.
"So the awareness is there. People understand how serious the situation is. Everything is set up well, but again, the biggest challenge is time. We need to act quickly, because the captive birds are aging, and breeding becomes harder and harder. But I believe we can manage it and save this species for future generations."
Can you briefly mention some other species that you are focusing on for the future or that you plan to focus on in the future?
"As a zoo, and in my role leading the birds of prey and owls section of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, we’re now also focusing heavily on the African vulture crisis.
"In the last ten years, we’ve seen catastrophic declines—more than 95% in some vulture species in Africa. It’s a huge issue.
"We’re now establishing managed captive populations with designated coordinators, so we can breed these critically endangered species in the wild. We are working to influence African governments to improve protection and stop poaching.
"The main cause of vulture decline in Africa is poisoning, specifically illegal poisoning. Poachers don’t want vultures around, because vultures are the first sign that something has happened. When poachers kill an elephant or rhino, the vultures appear quickly, circling above. That alerts authorities.
"So to avoid detection, poachers use carbofuran, an illegal and highly toxic pesticide, to poison the vultures. It’s a massive problem. We are trying to address it, but it will take a lot of work. That’s the next big focus for us."
And finally, not to end on a negative note—could you share with us some positive moment from your long-lasting career? Something that you remember from the many years of working on protecting birds of prey?
"I always remember one personal story. When I started at Liberec Zoo as a young man, my first job was to send a captive-bred bearded vulture chick to Spain.
"I arranged the transport with a special company. They came with a custom-built crate and took the bird to Andalusia.
“When I started at Liberec Zoo as a young man, my first job was to send a captive-bred bearded vulture chick to Spain. Ten years later, I visited Andalusia and saw the bird soaring above me.”
"Ten years later, I visited Andalusia again with another chick—and I saw a bearded vulture soaring above me. It was wearing identification rings. Using binoculars, I saw the code and realized it was that very first chick I had worked with.
"It was now a male, with a female nearby, and they were raising a chick together. That moment gave me so much motivation. Whenever I feel stuck or that things aren’t progressing, I remember that story. That’s why I do this work."
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