The Institute of Slavonic Studies of the ASCR celebrates 20 years of reestablished Slavonic studies. It was originally founded in 1922 on the initiative of and with funding by President T. G. Masaryk. It was abolished during the World War II. Refounded after the war, it was a part of the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences from 1953-1964. Closed again, in 1992 it became a joint unit of the ASCR and the Faculty of Philosophy of the Charles University. In 1995, the institute was affiliated with the Archives of the ASCR. Since 1998, it has functioned as an independent institute of the ASCR. The institute conducts scientific research in Palaeoslovenic studies and byzantinology, lexicology and lexicography of contemporary Slavonic languagues, history and theory of Slavonic studies, history of Slavonic literatures and associated publication activities. and František Čajka [et al.].
Twenty years ago, Przewalski’s horse (last spotted in the wild in 1969) returned to Mongolia and China. In the mid-1980’s, number of horses in zoological gardens reached 500 and ideas of their reintroduction started to take shape. After a failure of the first plan, private foundations took up the initiative, helped to build acclimatization stations and arranged the air trans - port. Not only the acclimatization but also a behavioural adaptation of the horses proved to be crucial. Despite the definite success, the wild populations remain small, they are exposed to winters with extreme amounts of snow, and will face a risk of inbreeding in the future. and Evžen Kůs.