ZOOFanatika 2025
 12th year of Slavic meeting of zoo-materials collectors and zoo-fans

this year very special
IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINIAN ZOOS

WHAT WILL MAKE ZF 2025 SO SPECIAL?
ZooFanatika 2025 will be entirely focused on supporting Ukrainian zoos, which are still in a desperate situation - the initial wave of solidarity in Europe has somewhat subsided, and so the financial situation of Ukrainian zoos is even worse than at the beginning of the war. The situation is complicated, of course, not only in connection with the lack of funds. The most famous and most admired Ukrainian zoo - Askania Nova, no longer exists, many animals fromh here were shot and consumed by the Russian army, and the rest of the destruction was done by the flood wave from the blown-up Kachovka dam.
Just like at ZF 2022 in Ostrava, the proceeds from the auction from this ZF will also go to Ukrainian zoos. In addition that, the directors of 6 Ukrainian zoos will be special guests of ZooFanatika for the entire 3 days. Namely Vladimir Topchiy (President of the Ukrainian Association of Zoos and Aquariums - UAZA and director of Nikolaev Zoo), Oleg Pavlyuk (director of Rovno Zoo), Yevgeniy Van (Director of Cherkasy Zoo), Lyudmila Denisenko (Directoress of Lutsk Zoo), Igor Belyakov (director of Odessa Zoo) and Sergey Kostiv (Director of Zoo "Limpopo" Drogobych). The proceeds of the auction will be ceremonially handed over to the President of the UAZA on Sunday.
Vladimir Topchiy will also be a participant in the traditional Sunday discussion with a prominent zoologist. Pre-auction lecture on the current state of affairs in Ukrainian zoos will be also in his regie (or together with colleagues).
In connection with this special focus of the ZF, a press conference for local media will also be held, and very interesting for ZF participants (especially collectors) is fact that many Czech, Slovak, Polish and Ukrainian zoos have promised to contribute something interesting to the auction (e.g. books).
 

WHEN AND WHERE
from 11th to 13th April 2025 in Zoo Lubin (www.zoolubin.pl).
 

ARRIVAL BY CAR
The zoo parking lot is at the back entrance (arrival from Ignacego Paderewskiego Street, GPS 51°23'42.68"N, 16°12'42.35"E) - do not park in the parking lots at the department stores opposite the main entrance, the zoo parking lot is large enough and also free.
 

ARRIVAL BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT
If you have not your own car, it is best to agree with some of the other participants who will come by car (from Prague for example) - it can be done for example through Facebook of ZOOfanatika.
Train: Lubin is on the railway routes leading from the Czech border (Trutnov, Broumov, Ostrava) to the north, but most long-distance connections are via Wrocław. There is no direct connection. From Prague, you need to change in Wrocław, from Brno and Bratislava there is a change in Ústí n. Orlicí or Bohumín and the second one also in Wrocław. The connection can be found on Idosu or in the ČD + PKP timetables (price from Prague approx. 900 - 1,300 CZK, from Brno 800 - 1,100 CZK, from Ostrava 750 -1,100 CZK, from Bratislava 1,500 - 2,500 CZK).
Bus: connections from the Czech Republic and Slovakia to Lubin are provided by FlixBus from many large Czech cities, usually with one change (in Wrocław or Katowice). Connections cannot be found on Idos, but on the FlixBus website (price from Prague around 1,500 CZK, from Brno around 900 CZK, from Ostrava around 850 CZK, from Bratislava around 1,500 CZK).
 

ENTRY TO THE ZOO AND REGISTRATION
Entrance to the zoo is free (since 7:00 AM) and free of charge, so no ticket or anything else is needed. Registration will take place in the zoo's lecture hall, where everyone will receive an identification tag. The lecture hall is located between both entrances (closer to the main one, but also close to the second entrance) - it is about a 3-minute walk from the parking lot (and the same from the parking lot at the department stores opposite the main entrance).
 

PRICE
The fee per person is 160 zł or € 40 and includes one joint dinner, a toast, basic refreshments during the entire program (coffee, tea, bottled water, cookies, bars, chips, etc.), a cup, overhead and other costs (identification tags, printing, etc.) .). Last year's participants will receive a postcard with a joint photo.

The table for changing materials is paid extra - full table 15 zł or € 3,80. Another option is only half table for 8 zł or € 2.
Payment: by bank transfer (see info in the application form), foreigners (including Slovaks) will pay on the place in cash - in Euros.
 

REGISTERING
You can register and order all else (i.e. meals and table for swapping) by one PDF form. Only to fill out and send it to the e-mail (contact in the form) suffices. Save filled out application form under your name in the shape family_firstname.pdf (details in the application form). One application is required for each participant.
Dead line for the registering is 3rd April 2025!!!

Download the PDF application form if you didn't get it by e-mail (right click on the link and save as...).
Note: if you can not to open the PDF file, it is probably because the maker canceled some extensions for Acrobat Reader (i.e. the free version), but it can be filled out via an internet browser... Open the pdf application form in an internet browser - right-click and select "open in program", then select your browser (all of them should work). If your browser is in the list of programs, find item "choose another application" in the bottom. Don't forget to save the completed pdf file on your computer after filling it out.
 

ACCOMMODATION
everyone has to arrange their own accommodation - there are many accommodation options in Lubin, but most of them are more expensive. 250 - 340 zł. (€ 60 - 80) per night is not an exception, but it is usually the price per room, so if it is a double or triple room, the price per person is half or third. Not entirely easy, but you can also find cheaper accommodation (in hostels) - from 35 zł (€ 8) per person per night.
It is also possible to find accommodation relatively close to the zoo (about 15 minutes by walk).
 

MEALS
all catering will take place in the lecture hall at the zoo (bring cutlery and a spoon with you).
Joint dinner and toast on Friday: included in the price (in the ZOOFanatika fee), including a toast, which will be directed by us - alcoholic and non-alcoholic sparkling wine (until all bottles are consumed).
Breakfast: most of the participants will probably have breakfast at the hotel, for the others breakfast will be under our direction in the lecture hall - depending on what we buy in the store (probably pastries, smoked meat products, maybe cooked sausages, cheese, fruit, yogurt, etc. + coffee / tea). Price: 11 zł or € 2,80.
Lunches and dinners: all lunches (including soup) and dinners will be delivered by Baruś company directly to the lecture hall, so there will be no possibility to re-order or cancel the meal (think carefully and choose in time - see menu). Price: 18 zł or € 4,50 for lunch (including soup) or dinner. Those who are not interested in food can shop in one of the department stores opposite the zoo. In the zoo, there operates only a small café iduring the day.

How to order food: by applying to ZOOfanatika (it will not work on the spot even in exceptional cases!!!)
Other snacks: cookies, bars, chips, etc. will be available non-stop for free, as well as coffee, tea and soft drinks. Everyone receives a cup for non-alcoholic drink during registration (one for all 3 days).
 

SCHEDULE
the program will be interesting again, none of the traditional points are missing - there are 9 lectures, a collector's exchange, auction, guided tour of the zoo (including background - wisents), a lecture and discussion with an important figure in zoology (Vladimir Topchiy - director of Nikolaev Zoo and president of Ukrainian Association of zoos and aquaria - UAZA). In addition to Nikoleav zoo director, special guests will be the directors of 5 other Ukrainian zoos (Oleg Pavlyuk - Rovno Zoo, Yevgeniy Van - Cherkasy Zoo, Lyudmila Denisenko - Lutsk Zoo, Igor Belyakov - Odessa Zoo and Sergey Kostiv - Zoo "Limpopo" Drogobych). See complete schedule.
Start: Friday 11th April 2025 - arrival and registration between 9.³⁰ and 10.³⁰ (program since 10.³⁰)
End: Sunday 13th April 2025 - departure around 13.⁰⁵.

NOTE:
Please try to direct Friday arrivals really between 9:30 and 10:30 (neither earlier nor later) and also limit later arrivals (Saturday, etc.) as much as possible. Friday morning untill 9:30, a press conference is planned - the lecture hall will not be accessible and no one will register you. There will still be someone in the hall during the day, but there will be even less time than usually, because in addition to all the usual worries, there will be also worries about our guests.
 

COLLECTOR'S SWAPPING:
will take place in the lecture hall (no. 1 in map). Anyone can go and see or buy, but selling or swapping can only those who have paid for a table (€ 3,60) or half a table (€ 2). To unload and load materials, it is possible to drive into the zoo, but only on Saturdays and only until 7:00. In this case, drive your car to the zoo entrance gate (no. 4 in the map) in Ignacego Paderewskiego Street and then through the area along the route marked on the map below. The gate will be open only for us (other times it is locked and unmanned). The access street is two-way, but there is an island in the middle, so you can only drive into the zoo in one direction - from the intersection with Wrocławska Street (i.e. from the main to the side entrance - before the turn to the parking lot). After unloading, drive your car immediately to the parking lot. After the auction, the materials will be transported in the same way (the gate will be unlocked again only for us). In this case, you need to drive from the parking lot to the main road to the right, turn back on the roundabout and then, at the intersection by the zoo) again in the opposite direction (best is to turn left and turn back in the parking lot by the department stores, or a little further on at the roundabout).
The lecture hall is on the ground floor and can be driven almost to the door, so it doesn't need any handcart.

For less complications, it is advisable to make an appointment with someone to to transport materials together in one car.
 

AUCTION
The proceeds of the auction will be used to help Ukrainian zoos. (It will be ceremonially handed over to the president of UAZA on Sunday).
The auction will be held in Czech crowns, but it will also be possible to pay in Euros and Polish zlotys (the conversion will be displayed on the screen).
In the auction, there were traditionally items donated by the participants but it is also traditional that the highlight is donated to the auction by the zoo (we'll see what it will be this time). In addition, this time other Czech, Slovak, Polish and Ukrainian zoos will donate various items to the auction.
 

SPECIAL OPTION
For Sunday, a special possibility is being discussed (to be confirmed). It is a possibility of demonstration of terrarium animals from Lubin Zoo for smaller groups (approx. 20 people) .

MAPS:

Map of the Zoo:


Map of zoo surroundings: