With an area of 288 hectares, the Košice Zoo is one of the largest in Europe. It is visited by more than 200 thousand visitors a year, who can see about 1,500 animals, which are represented in almost 300 species.

The area of the garden, but also the number of animals they keep here, means hundreds of meters of fencing of their enclosures. Specifically, the fencing of the area measures more than 10 km. Right in the area there are walking routes about 8.5 km long, and the total length of fences and fences inside the garden is about 10 km. Steel or iron structures must be regularly maintained so that the corroded ones do not injure animals on one side of the fence or children on the other side of the fence.

That is why the popular event Metallurgists for Košice in the ZOO is mainly about cleaning and repainting enclosures and fences. 

Regular and new volunteers came

Last Saturday, volunteers with brushes and cans of paint concentrated in two places – on the top and bottom of the bison fence. There are 4 bison and red deer living in the breeding facility, including 2 cubs.  The fencing of this enclosure, which has an area of about a quarter of a hectare, is the most massive in the entire garden. In addition, some volunteers cleaned the area at the top of the paddock, where they cut and sawed dry branches.

The volunteers came in a good mood in the morning. The weather certainly contributed to it.  It was under a cloud, the temperature was just right and a breeze blew here and there, ideal for working outside. Gabriel Kádar is a permanent fixture among our volunteers. Every year he comes with his daughter, and if time allows, with his wife:  "I like to go to the zoo because it is the most beautiful in Slovakia."

For Baška Labašová (right), it was the first participation. She didn't hesitate, she came earlier and also helped us with handing out T-shirts, baguettes, water... and a special gift for the 20th anniversary of our event. It was a practical, tin mug with a carabiner suitable for trips.

The journey to the breeding facility took longer because it is located further from the center, in the upper part of the garden, and the volunteers had to deal with "full equipment".

Katka Dittelová is a regular volunteer. On Saturday, she also brought her colleague Lívia Szitásová to the ZOO: "I wanted to come in the past, but I never had anyone to join the group. I'm glad I came. I had no idea that there was such a good atmosphere here. I will definitely come next year."

The first and certainly not the last time Marián Bercik came to the Volunteer Day, who was very satisfied with the work and the event.

"It's great here, like every year. We knew what to expect, so there were no surprises. It's great that it's not hot and sometimes the breeze blows," said  Marián Kušnirák, who was also very willing to help us move the heavy boxes at the beginning of the event.

"We are a good team, there is fun and good cooperation. Some rub, others paint, some are up, others are down... The next time I come to the zoo, I will definitely go to see our workplace and the fences we painted," said Martin Fedák.

A group of children also came to the zoo with their parents.

While the parents were working, the children, accompanied by animators Veronika and Emily, saw almost the entire zoo. "We saw almost all the animals, we even talked about them. We saw seals, meerkats and monkeys feeding. I also found a friend here," Simonka Fedáková praised the program.

Did you like the event? Will you come next time? We asked some volunteers. And here are their answers:

Anna Kseňáková: "I was in the zoo 12-13 years ago.  Previously, both in Hurbanová and in the Botanical Garden. I have two boys, so this time I wanted to go to the zoo. I will definitely come here next time."

Barbora Labašová : "For me, it was great, we were a great team, the weather was good. I will definitely be happy to come for a walk around the zoo and show what I painted."

Lukáš Kozel : "It was great, I was here for the first time, I'm looking forward to next year."

Edo Grečner : "I'm satisfied, it's great to get together like this. Such events are better at building relationships than just in the workplace."

The work of our volunteers was greatly appreciated by the director of the Košice Zoo, Erich Kočner, and Eva Malešová, who handed over free family tickets to our volunteers as a thank you.

"We painted about 100 meters of fences. This fencing is very massive, it is probably the most massive enclosure in the zoo with an area of about a quarter of a hectare.  After at least 30 years, we also painted the partition between the fences, which was rusty and which can be seen from the bottom of the sidewalk. I am glad that the area near the bison was also cleaned. An educational trail Path through the Forest will be created here and this year we will also welcome visitors to it.  You helped us a lot, thank you," said the director of the zoo at the end of the event.

Our volunteers in turquoise T-shirts attracted not only visitors to the garden at first glance. The bison also looked at them curiously, but only until the breeders locked them in the stable so that painting the corral would be safe.

On the contrary, peacocks, which live freely in the entrance part of the zoo, could boldly come into close proximity to people. One of them decided to pose for our photographer and joined in the group photo.:)

Photo: Ján Kisucký