It is with great regret that we received the news of the death of Hanna Gucwińska, who, together with her husband, headed the Municipal Zoo in Wrocław for many years. Millions of Poles got to know her better and fell in love with her thanks to the program “With a camera among animals”, which she hosted with her husband, Antoni Gucwiński. (d. 2021) for 31 years.
Hanna Gucwińska, née Jurczak, was born in Warsaw April 25, 1932. She wanted to work with animals – she was a zootechnician by education, and she graduated with a master’s degree in 1962 at Agricultural University in Wrocław. It then became associated with the capital of Lower Silesia for many years. It was here that in 1957 she started working at the Municipal Zoo, and in 1962 she married Antoni Gucwiński.
Antoni Gucwiński was the director of the Municipal Zoo in the years 1966-2006, and his wife Hanna always accompanied and supported him – also in his professional work. Hanna Gucwińska held the position of Chief Breeding Specialist of the Municipal Zoo.
Antoni and Hanna Gucwiński became known to a wider audience thanks to the program “With a camera among animals”. It was broadcast on TVP from 1971 to 2002. On the air, the Gucwiński family popularized knowledge about the life and breeding of animals, including exotic ones. They were also co-authors of nature films and authors of numerous publications and books about animals.
Hanna Gucwińska was awarded the Medal of the Commission of National Education (1977), the Golden Cross of Merit (1983), the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (1998). In 2003 she received the Order of the Smile. Former Pmember of the Sejm of the 4th term (2001–2005).
