News digest: Thanks to animal lovers, Bratislava Zoo quickly reopens its gates after flood
Russian propaganda spotted in elementary school, 19 percent of Slovak kids are overweight, and how to bury a man who, on paper, never existed.
Good evening. Here is the Friday, September 27 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.
Bratislava Zoo reopens after severe flood, with clean-up ongoing
Nearly 200 volunteers have spent the past two weeks helping to clear up damage at Bratislava Zoo following a severe flood caused when a small stream that runs through the area burst its banks during Storm Boris earlier this month, TV Noviny reports.
The extreme weather of mid September left significant destruction at the zoo, with heavy rain and winds toppling trees, and damaging fences and other infrastructure.
After a closure lasting two weeks, the zoo reopened its gates today, but clean-up efforts were still continuing. Employees evacuated the animals after the Vydrica stream overflowed, flooding the lower part of the zoo and destroying the farmyard.
On Friday, the first visitors returned, though volunteers were still removing mud from the most affected areas. “We are still awaiting structural assessments of the bridges, as infrastructure was damaged as well,” said zoo spokeswoman Alexandra Ritterová.
The evacuated animals are slowly being returned to their enclosures, including the cats and lemurs. As for the farmyard, it will need to be repaired first, with the animals expected to return in two to three months.
One surprise awaited staff after the water was drained. Fish that were believed to have been swept into the Danube by the flooding were found within the zoo grounds.
Bratislava Zoo is counting significant financial losses after the flood and its two-week closure, though the total has yet to be calculated. A financial collection has been set up and €30,000 has so far been raised.
MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE
- Education: A Russian propaganda event, featuring pro-Soviet information panels, was held at a primary school in Nitra, prompting the Education Ministry to react. It is promising to investigate.
- Cybersecurity: In 2023, Slovakia ranked 17th globally for leaked email credentials, with cybercriminals increasingly using malware and AI to steal personal data, while the most common stolen passwords included simple number combinations and first names.
- Business: Cooperative housing is making a comeback in Slovakia as a viable alternative to mortgages, particularly for those unable to qualify for traditional financing, with a recent pilot project in Bratislava.
- Travel: After much anticipation and a weather-related delay, Slovak Spectator wroter Matúš Beňo successfully hiked the challenging Priečne Sedlo saddle in the High Tatras, and came back with this account.
- Good news: The first palatal plate for a newborn in Slovakia, a young Slovak cyclist collects medals for her success, and NASA publishes a beautiful scene from Slovakia; here is your weekly selection of feel-good stories.
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FEATURE STORY
Slovak's mission impossible
Michal Novotný, aka "Yaksha," talks honestly about his own life and that of his Vietnamese father, who died from eating poisonous mushrooms in Sweden, where he lived illegally. Michal was faced with a mission impossible: how to bury a man who, on paper, never existed.
EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND
Oktoberfest Run
How about combining fun with fitness? Join the Oktoberfest Run in Nitra for a unique race where you can sip beer while you keep running!
IN OTHER NEWS
- The I/66 road near the village of Huncovce in the Kežmarok district is closed, with police managing traffic at the scene. The closure is due to a traffic accident involving three cars that occurred at the entrance to the village from the direction of Kežmarok. According to the operational centre of the Fire and Rescue Service in Prešov, one person was trapped in the wreckage, and four others were injured, including two children. Six firefighters with two vehicles are currently on site, along with the emergency medical service, four ambulances, and the air rescue service. (SITA)
- In Slovakia, 19 percent of children are overweight, with the highest prevalence now among seven- to eight-year-olds, as revealed by a repeated survey from the educational programme "I Know What I Eat." According to Róbert Ochaba from the Public Health Authority, improper nutrition and lack of exercise are the main causes of this issue, with unhealthy eating habits such as skipping breakfast being particularly detrimental. The survey also found that the number of children with dietary restrictions has increased from 9 percent in 2017 to 13 percent in 2024, highlighting the need for greater awareness of healthy eating among parents and children. (TASR)
- According to Smer MP and deputy speaker of parliament Tibor Gašpar, MP Alojz Hlina (SaS) violated parliamentary rules by displaying a sticker of a cross and a traditional family on his laptop, prompting Gašpar to ask him to hide it. Hlina clarified that he prefers to keep such symbols in his heart rather than on his laptop but added the sticker after another opposition MP was ejected fom parliament earlier this week because of stickers on her computer. He expressed confusion over the different treatment he received compared to the other MP (whose stickers supported progressive causes), suggesting Gašpar refrained from removing him from the chamber due to the political implications.
- Jaroslav Haščák is returning to the executive leadership of the Penta investment group after nearly four years, effective October 1, 2024, following the dismissal of charges against him in the Gorilla case. As a co-founder of Penta, he previously served as managing partner until December 2020 and was instrumental in the company’s strategy and expansion into the health-care sector. Haščák's return will bolster the current leadership team, which includes Marek Dospiva and Iain Child, as Penta continues to grow across various sectors in central Europe. (SITA)
WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND: This weekend is expected to be cloudy to overcast. It will gradually cool down, but Saturday will be slightly warmer than Sunday, with a high of 20°C, falling to 18°C on Sunday. In the north of Slovakia, the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) has issued a level 1 warning due to strong winds. (SHMÚ)
NAME DAYS IN SLOVAKIA: Saturday, September 28 - Václav; Sunday, September 29 - Michal, Michaela; Monday, September 30 - Jarolím.
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