Together with the castle, they form an inseparable duo, one of the symbols of Bojnice. The oldest zoo in Slovakia, together with the Bojnice National Zoo, attracts tourists from all over Slovakia, but foreign visitors also come here. People from the surrounding area often use the area for family walks. Jaroslav Slašťan also works in this beautiful natural environment. He comes from Kremnica, but his heart and love for animals brought him to Upper Nitra. He represents the Bojnice ZOO as its spokesperson.

Your relationship with nature is probably positive. But how did you get to work at the ZOO?

"I worked as an ecologist for a foreign company and monitored the state of fauna, flora and habitats. I was close to nature from an early age. I grew up in Kremnica, I spent my holidays with my grandparents in Ihráč, which is a beautiful mountain village in central Slovakia. There I formed a relationship with animals. I was more interested in animals than some technology or cars. I have been a volunteer guardian of nature for ten years, so I have experience with trapping animals, rehabilitation and housing. I can approach animals, I know how to treat them. I also accompany foreign photographers on various photo expeditions, I do wildlife tracking courses. Based on that, I was approached, I applied for the competition and now I work here. "

Many children dream of working in the ZOO. Is it also a "dream job" for you?

"It's an interesting robot. Until then, I was used to our original Carpathian fauna. She is my heart, especially bears. And here I also met exotic animals that have different behaviors and characteristics. I had to get used to them and find my way to them. Even their names, Latin or scientific names were difficult for me to master. After all, at this age. ”(Laughter)

Did the bears go sideways now, or are you keeping an eye on them?

"I still care about bears. I am constantly monitoring the territory of Kremnické vrchy. I check the dens several times a year, I take photos of bears and I also accompany other photographers. Bears are my heart and they always will be. "

Thousands of people pass through the zoo gate. Do they behave as they should in a zoo?

"My desire is for people in the zoo to behave with respect. And not only to each other, but also to the animals. The behavior of some people is literally strange. You need to be attentive to animals and sometimes it's good to read animal labels. For example, the family is standing by the orangutans and I hear my dad explaining to the children that they are gorillas, and yet he has two information boards ... And it's not funny at all, it's sad. We are already misleading children. "

During the winter months, there are always fewer people in the zoo. In addition, we have a pandemic here, so the number of visitors has certainly fallen. Tell us for the animals, how are they in such a period?

"They are calmer, it is also a psychological relief for them. If people knock on glass or strike them during high traffic, they are noisy, it is unpleasant for them. Now they are more natural and this can be seen in their behavior. Some animals, which can withstand negative temperatures, are still in the paddocks, we winterized exotic. Outside, however, you can see camels, zebras, and while the elephants were in the old exhibit, they also went outside for a while. ”

When we are with elephants, how are Maja and Guľa in the new premises?

"We moved them in December, they are gradually getting used to it. They handle change quite well, but we are all very careful. Nevertheless, they lived in one place for thirty years. However, the new premises are modern, much larger, the exterior enclosure will be full of greenery and trees. The interior is two-storey, there is also a special space for veterinary treatment. And while for elephants it's about improving living conditions, visitors will also get their money's worth. ”

Note: We conducted the interview before the tightening of anti-epidemic measures, the zoos have been closed to visitors since mid-February.