Prague Zoo opens immersive new VR center for visitors

Prague Zoo has recently expanded its offerings to include a virtual reality (VR) experience for visitors. On Thursday the zoo opened a special VR building – the aim of this new addition is to increase public knowledge regarding conservation efforts, animals’ habitats, and to bring wildlife closer to people.

Zoo spokesperson Filip Mašek explains the technological components of the VR display: "Special glasses are provided for visitors, known as the immersive VR experience. This is characterized by its complete surround sound and the use of seats that tilt and shake to simulate real-life experiences, such as a gorilla running out of the forest." 

The VR experience offers two different projections: one showcasing mountain gorillas in Rwanda, and the other featuring the Great African Animal Migration. The former was created in collaboration with Tara Stoinski, director of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, and follows the daily life of a family of mountain gorillas. 

According to Mašek, the VR experience “provides a unique opportunity for individuals to observe wild nature, which is not possible in a typical zoo setting. For the first time, viewers can witness the dynamics of a gorilla troop, including the struggle for dominance between two alpha males."

There are a little over 1,000 mountain gorillas left in the world – the zoo comments that it is “extremely important” to know their behavior in order to save them from extinction.

The second projection, developed by Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmakers, transports viewers to the East African savannas, where millions of wildebeest, zebra, and antelope migrate in search of sustenance. Along the way, they are subjected to various threats from predators, highlighting the delicate balance of life in the wild. Viewers will see lions, crocodiles, cheetahs, and hyenas attempt to catch their prey during the VR display.

The Prague Zoo is the first of its kind in the Czech Republic to offer this VR experience, joining just a small handful of other zoos globally, such as those in London, Sydney, Las Vegas, and Taipei. According to Mašek, the zoo plans to expand its collection of films in the future, potentially featuring other endangered species, such as whales.

Prices cost just CZK 140 for the experience (CZK 120 if purchasing tickets online).