Le Parc des Félins Parc des Felins news

[Haliaeetus]

Arrival of a young female Maned Wolf, JUREMA from La Barben. It's the first member of the Canid family to join the (formerly called) Parc des Félins.
Lumigny Safari Reserve on Instagram: " Une nouvelle arrivée au Lumigny Safari Reserve ! Nous avons l’immense plaisir de vous présenter Jurema, notre loup à crinière , qui vient tout juste d’intégrer le circuit Amérique de notre parc ! Son arrivée est un événement unique et symbolique : Jurema est le tout premier canidé à rejoindre la grande famille de Lumigny, aux côtés de nos félins, primates et bien d’autres espèces. Une belle étape qui enrichit encore la diversité de notre faune. ️ Née le 9 février 2024 au Parc Zoologique de la Barben, Jurema est une femelle de 1 an, 2 mois et 7 jours. Issue d’une naissance en captivité, elle a rejoint nos pensionnaires le 5 avril dernier. Après une semaine d’acclimatation en bâtiment et pré-enclos, elle découvre maintenant son nouvel espace extérieur, où elle commence à prendre ses repères, avec ses longues pattes élégantes et sa superbe crinière sombre. Certains d’entre vous ont peut-être déjà eu la chance de l’apercevoir lors de ses premières sorties… et ce n’est que le début de cette belle aventure à ses côtés ! Nous sommes très fiers de l’accueillir et impatients de vous la présenter ! Bienvenue à Jurema Rozenn IZEL, Eric FAVEREAU #LumignySafariReserve #Jurema #LoupACrinière #ManedWolf #NouvelleArrivée #FamilleLumigny #CircuitAmérique #Biodiversité #WildlifeConservation #ParcAnimalier #PremièreEspèce #AmériqueDuSud"

Given the new orientations of both Lumigny zoos, is it possible to lump this thread with this of its sister zoo, namely the Terre de Singes ?

 

[Haliaeetus]

For the first time in its history, the Parc des Félins welcomes a litter of Sumatran Tigers. This one is composed of 2 little females.
Lumigny Safari Reserve on Instagram: "Grande nouvelle au Lumigny Safari Reserve ! Pour la toute première fois dans l’histoire du parc, des bébés tigresses de Sumatra sont nées au Lumigny Safari Réserve ! Deux adorables femelles ont vu le jour le 5 février 2025, fruit de l’union entre Dumai, leur maman attentionnée, et Taru, le fier papa. C’est un événement exceptionnel pour notre parc, mais aussi une étape cruciale pour cette espèce en danger critique d’extinction. Depuis leur naissance, nos soigneurs veillent sur elles avec la plus grande attention… Et hier, elles ont franchi une grande étape : leur toute première sortie en extérieur ! Sous l’œil bienveillant de leur mère, elles ont commencé à explorer leur environnement avec curiosité et assurance. Comme le veut la tradition à Lumigny… c’est à vous de leur choisir un prénom ! ️ Un vote sera bientôt lancé, alors restez connectés pour participer à cette belle aventure ! Séverine CLAIR #LumignySafariReserve #TigreDeSumatra #NaissanceHistorique #BébésTigres #PremièreSortie #EspèceMenacée #Conservation #FamilleLumigny #VoteDesPrénoms #WildlifeConservation #ParcAnimalier"

 

[MennoPebesma]

2-year-old female polar bear Anouk from Tierpark Hagenbeck arrived at Lumigny Safari Reserve yesterday.

Source: Facebook Tierpark Hagenbeck

 

[Corby93]

Great news!! Could be this the news that the new Nordic area is almost ready? wishing to see the new developments of the park

 

[Gab_1]

Birth of a margay (Leopardus wiedii).
Lumigny Safari Reserve on Instagram: "Une précieuse naissance pour l’avenir de l’espèce ! C’est avec une immense joie que nous vous annonçons que notre bébé margay, né récemment au Lumigny Safari Reserve, commence à se montrer de plus en plus ! Sa maman Ixchel et son papa Kaï veillent toujours tendrement sur lui, mais ce petit trésor, jusque-là très discret, ose désormais explorer les abords de son espace… pour le plus grand bonheur des visiteurs ! Cette naissance est une véritable victoire pour la préservation de cette espèce rare et menacée. Chaque margay qui voit le jour contribue à la sauvegarde de la biodiversité et à la sensibilisation autour de la faune sauvage. Lors de votre prochaine visite, ouvrez bien l’œil… vous aurez peut-être la chance d’apercevoir ce petit ambassadeur de l’espoir ! Merci à Clémence et à Rozenn IZEL pour ces magnifiques photos #NaissanceMargay #Conservation #EspèceMenacée #LumignySafariReserve #Margay #IxchelEtKaï #BébéMargay #Biodiversité #TrésorDeLaNature"

 

[Haliaeetus]

Birth of 5 Sand Cats on Feb 25th.
Lumigny Safari Reserve on Instagram: " Le printemps nous réserve une merveilleuse surprise ! Nous sommes ravis de vous annoncer la naissance de 5 adorables chats des sables le 25 février dans notre parc ! La femelle, Aziri, née chez nous en 2022, veille avec tendresse sur sa précieuse portée. Le mâle, Zodji, arrivé du Zoo de Mulhouse en 2023, a été déplacé dans un enclos à proximité. En tant que coordinateur du programme d’élevage européen EEP pour la conservation des chats des sables, notre parc s’engage activement pour la préservation de cette espèce fascinante, parfaitement adaptée aux environnements arides. Venez vite découvrir l’évolution de ces petites merveilles ! Rozenn IZEL #ChatsDesSables #NaissanceExceptionnelle #Conservation #BébésTropMignons #ParcAnimalier #ProtectionDesEspèces"

The Sand kittens are 2 males and 3 females.
Lumigny Safari Reserve on Instagram: " Vous avez parlé, on a écouté ! Voici enfin les prénoms officiels de nos adorables bébés chats des sables, choisis par nos soigneurs et vous même : Nos femelles : Talia, Zahara et Sinaï Nos mâles : Siwa et Amani Un grand merci à tous ceux qui ont voté, vous avez assuré ! Ces petits bouts ont hâte de tous vous voir ! Monique MOLLICONE #ChatsDesSables #BébésFélins #LumignySafari #MerciLaTeam #NouveauxNés #CharmesFélins"

 

[Wanderer]

I know it's been a while but I think the name change was a mistake. Even if they decided to shift the collection to non-feline species the park was well known as Parc des Félins in the Paris region. The new name is less memorable. Also the English is a bit confusing in this case, most people won't really know how to pronounce 'reserve' in English and will just say 'réserve' in French. So why use English in the first place?

 

[jopif]

So why use English in the first place?

I think the reason for choosing an English name is that it feels more "in tune" with the times as it is also the case with French theme parks, where the word “land” is often used (probably to sound like Disneyland). I also find the use of english regrettable, but on the other hand I think the use of the name of the town "Lumigny" is welcome because I found “Le parc des félins” too generic and there was already confusion with “Le domaine des Fauves” in Isère.

This problem is common in French parks: "La Vallée des Singes" in Romagne sounds too close to "La Forêt des Singes" in Rocamadour (while being located less than 200km apart) and "La Montagne des Singes" in Alsace. This problem is similar to that of "La Planète des Crocodiles", which was renamed "Terre de dragons" to avoid resembling "La ferme des crocodiles" wich is a different park. Basically, I'm always in favor of including geographical information in a zoo's name unless the name is very recognizable (CERZA, Nausicaa, Le PAL, Océanopolis).

 

[Wanderer]

But Lumigny is a small village, nobody knows where it is. Parc des félins was recognizable enough as "that place that has lots of cats" for people in the Paris region. For places with 'safari' in their name there is already Thoiry which is well established. Domaine des fauves is far away and not as well known as Parc des félins so there is little confusion.

 

[ZooNews2024]

But Lumigny is a small village, nobody knows where it is. Parc des félins was recognizable enough as "that place that has lots of cats" for people in the Paris region. For places with 'safari' in their name there is already Thoiry which is well established. Domaine des fauves is far away and not as well known as Parc des félins so there is little confusion.

Does 'safari' not imply that you drive around it in your car? - as it would in England.

 

[jopif]

Does 'safari' not imply that you drive around it in your car? - as it would in England.

Yes, but “Safari Reserve” is an English nominal group, that's why it does sound "english". I've never been to this park, but I don't think visitors can use their own cars to tour the zoo, so the name is really misleading. And more, the zoo doesn't contain the typical African savannah you'd expect to find in a safari-zoo like CERZA, Wow Safari Thoiry, Wow Safari Peaugres, Planète Sauvage or Sigean.

Domaine des fauves is far away and not as well known as Parc des félins so there is little confusion.

I mean, it confused me at least I would have been fine with "Parc des félins de Lumigny" though

 

[migdog]

Great news!! Could be this the news that the new Nordic area is almost ready? wishing to see the new developments of the park

The brown bears and wolves enclosure is still under construction, along with the food outlet and toilets.

 

[twilighter]

The brown bears and wolves enclosure is still under construction, along with the food outlet and toilets.

I have been at the Park two years ago, when they still had all the "European" Felids but the Iberian Lynx. I really hope that they will not start losing their amazing Cat collection.

Where exactly are the new Brown Bear/ Wolf area located?

 

[jopif]

I have been at the Park two years ago, when they still had all the "European" Felids but the Iberian Lynx. I really hope that they will not start losing their amazing Cat collection.

Where exactly are the new Brown Bear/ Wolf area located?

This enclosure, along with the polar bear enclosure, is located at the southern end of the park, further away from the area reserved for African cats. (Basically, it's in the opposite direction to 'La Terre des Singes). A pathway separates the Brown Bear/Wolf enclosure (on the left when you enter the area, i.e. to the south-east) and the Polar Bear enclosure (on the right).

 

[twilighter]

This enclosure, along with the polar bear enclosure, is located at the southern end of the park, further away from the area reserved for African cats. (Basically, it's in the opposite direction to 'La Terre des Singes). A pathway separates the Brown Bear/Wolf enclosure (on the left when you enter the area, i.e. to the south-east) and the Polar Bear enclosure (on the right).

I understood. Thank you for the reply! Are more Carnivores enclosures planned?

 

[jopif]

I understood. Thank you for the reply! Are more Carnivores enclosures planned?

This short message prompted me to listen to a podcast interview with the park’s new director (appointed in 2023), who happens to be from the same family that runs CERZA. Here’s a quick summary of what I understood :

It seems the rarity-chasing era at Lumigny is coming to an end. For one, many of the species currently at the park are being phased out of EAZA programs. But more notably, the new director appears to be deeply committed to offering large, naturalistic enclosures for carnivores, something we can already see with the lions' new habitat and the polar zone. This approach is increasingly common in French zoos, even in smaller ones like La Boissière du Doré. He also mentioned wanting to develop a large African savannah area in the future.

The park will still maintain its carnivore focus, particularly by expanding its work with sand cat conservation (for which Lumigny manages the EEP) and continuing to breed and exhibit species already on site (including rarities). When asked which carnivore species he’d like to bring in, he listed Asian small-clawed otters and red pandas (very likely to come, in a mixed exhibit), as well as dholes, Arctic foxes, grey wolves and striped hyenas (since CERZA manages the EEP, this also seems likely).

The new name is less memorable. Also the English is a bit confusing in this case, most people won't really know how to pronounce 'reserve' in English and will just say 'réserve' in French. So why use English in the first place?

The recent name change is tied to the diversification of species in the park, grouping felines and primates parts together, adding other carnivores, and perhaps introducing ungulates in the future. This diversification, should help ensure year-round visitor engagement (since big cats are known to sleep in their shelter when their cold and to... sleep in their shelter when it gets hot), especially as the zoo plans to stay open all year in the near future.

Interestingly, he also mentioned that choosing the name “Safari Reserve” was strategic, as he believes many French zoos will adopt similar names in the coming years, and he wanted to be ahead of the curve.

All in all, while I may sound critical, the new, yound director seems genuinely passionate and ambitious. He's clearly aiming to modernize the park’s vision with a focus on conservation and long-term planning. It’s clear that feline diversity at Lumigny will continue to decrease (with several species already gone and others likely to follow), but the zoo is evolving toward a more diversified, less specialized collection, slowly transitioning into a more typical French generalist zoo.

 

[dillotest0]

Now somehow I feel greatful to have visited Lumigny Felins at the time that I did in August 2023... at the time from what I recall they had twenty-eight species of cat [or twenty-seven depending on how many species of oncilla you think there are]. Of which iirc I managed to see twenty-two. And of the seven ]or, again, maybe six] species I missed out on I think I have seen all but the jungle cat.
And for what it's worth of the twenty-eight species that were there as of my visit [I believe the number's now more like twenty-five] most of them were and are represented elsewhere in Europe. I think of all the twenty-eight species the oncillas are the worst-represented in Europe... but then their taxonomy is disputed so from the get-go it's a difficult species to manage on the bureaucratic level.
I think it's a slight bit sad to me that the rich collection I visited will probably not be there next time I am in France... but I think it was one of those generational things many ZCers will remember fondly. For some it was Kilverstone, for some it was the RSCC, for some like I it will be Parc des Felins. And even if what will then be in Lumigny will be 'another French superstore zoo' then at least it will be easier to justify for the owners financially. Though I do hope there will still be plenty of cat to go around.

 

[jopif]

Though I do hope there will still be plenty of cat to go around.

I'm still confident Lumigny will remain one of the most diverse feline collection of Europe for a while, don't worry

 

[JVM]

Can someone give a rough summary what cats have been phased out or are expected to be phased out?

 

[Raikou]

It sounds like sad news. Fortunately, Novosibirsk Zoo is on my list of places to visit.