Mrs. Selamawit Kassa, Ethiopian Minister of Tourism, Přemysl Rabas, Director of the Dvůr Králové SAFARI PARK and Jaroslav Haimy Hyjánek, Zoological Director of the Dvůr Králové SAFARI PARK and Director of the Research Institute for the Protection of Gene Pools, signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the Protection of Endangered species in Ethiopia in the National Museum in Prague. "Such documents are crucial for effective cooperation with the authorities of all countries where SAFARI PARK develops activities to protect and save endangered species. In Ethiopia, we have been focusing on blue-winged goose and Nile lechwe, which we excel in breeding, and now we will focus on helping them in their natural habitats," said the Director of SAFARI PARK Přemysl Rabas.

The signing of the important document was preceded by an official visit of the Ethiopian minister to SAFARI PARK. She and her team were touring the breeding facilities for a number of seriously endangered species, namely the eastern black rhino. Mrs. Selamawit Kassa appreciated the high level of professionalism with which the SAFARI PARK's experts care for the animals. This is not the first time that prominent Ethiopian government officials have visited SAFARI PARK. Similar topics were discussed by the park officials last March during a visit from Ethiopia's Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Ms. Nassise Chali.

SAFARI PARK's experts have also made some important visits to Ethiopia in the past. There, they evaluated opportunities to launch effective species conservation programmes in this beautiful African country. "In 2024, we had been entrusted to lead the blue-winged goose conservation programme (EEP)  in European zoos, and part of our strategy is to establish a functioning conservation programme for the species in its home land. This species is endemic to Ethiopia," said Jaroslav Hyjánek. Besides that, we are basically the founder of the European breeding of lechwe and also one of the most important breeders with almost 300 babies being born in SAFARI PARK. These species can only be found in South Sudan and in a tiny area of Ethiopia, in the Gambella National Park. The first stage of the programme is to monitor both species in the wild, to determine their numbers as accurately as possible than to find out the behaviour of their populations.