On Monday, April 7th 2025, the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences (FTZ) at the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague hosted a festive event commemorating 25 years of antelope conservation at the faculty and the 15th anniversary of the Antelope Conservation NGO.
The event was attended by numerous students, staff, and distinguished guests who are closely connected to African savannah conservation. Among the attendees were representatives of the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including former Czech ambassadors to Senegal – Mgr. Lenka Pokorná and Ing. Miroslav Machálek – as well as senator and director of the Dvůr Králové Zoo, MVDr. Přemysl Rabas.
The event opened with a lecture by the NGO's chair, Assoc. Prof. Karolína Brandlová, Ph.D., who presented the history and development of antelope conservation at FTZ, from the initial efforts in 2000 to the current international projects in Senegal and other West African countries. She also discussed the current challenges in conserving the Western giant eland (Derby's eland), one of the world’s most endangered antelopes, and shared future visions.
The program included a photo exhibition documenting the NGO’s history and fieldwork. Visitors were guided through the exhibit by Karolína Brandlová and Prof. RNDr. Pavla Hejcmanová, Ph.D., who added personal stories and reflections to each image.
Several guests shared their field experiences and memories, highlighting the long-standing cooperation behind antelope conservation projects.
The event's friendly atmosphere was enhanced by refreshments from the Traktor bistro, and thanks to the sunny weather, a traditional sausage grilling took place in front of the faculty building.
We thank everyone who joined us in celebrating this milestone. We believe the gathering not only honored long-term conservation efforts but also inspired new generations of students to engage in protecting endangered species.
