A review of french zoos by a spanish zookeeper

X - AQUARIUM TROPICAL DE LA PORTE DORÈE

Near the Paris Zoo there is a relatively small aquarium focused in tropical species.

After visit all kinds of collections, I've learnt to detect when a "mad genius" is managing a zoo (the selection of the collection, the design of the exhibitions...) and a visit to this aquarium show you that there is a wonderful mad genius in charge of this place. The collection and the aquariums are not the simply tanks for piranhas, Indo-Pacific sea species... (that of course they are present), they show lots of aquariums showing endangered species of different areas, and the exhibition that you can see better is the area focused in Madagascar species.

If you visit a normal zoo and this zoo has a selection of Madagascar species, the 90% of the parks are going to show the typical lemurs, maybe one or two species of birds and the typical phelsumas, panther chameleons... but, what about the other species? Madagascar is a great hotspot with lots of endemic species of invertebrates and fishes, how many big zoos show these ones? And not talk about aquariums collections, I don't remember so much aquariums showing species from Madagascar and lots of them are as much endangered like critically endangered lemurs. In this aquarium you are not only going to see a nice selection of endangered fishes species from Madagascar like Bedotias or Ptychochromis cichlids, you are going to see a WONDERFUL big exhibition showing how the aquarium staff made an expedition to Madagascar to find females of the critically endangered cichlid Joba Mena (or Ptychochromis insolitus) (that was because the last captive female died in 2013) and import them to create a captive breeding program. The exhibition shows in pannels and recreations how the expedition was made, showing real sizes cabines of small planes, the jeeps of Madagascar... very interesting, specially for the public. In an age that sometimes the public see zoos and aquariums just like "entertainment centers" (at least in Spain), exhibitions like that can be very important to show the work that there is backstage.

The rest of the collection shows a central enclosure for albino alligators and different sea and freshwater tanks from all over the world, and lots of different species, including really endangered taxa. I love visit aquariums because I always add at least one or two new species, but I really enjoyed a visit to this aquarium. I'm a fan of Gerald Durrell and his vision of zoos focused in the most endangered, least study species and this aquarium follows 100% this vision.

Like the Menagerie, I've really interesting in revisit this small aquarium. When I visited, a new section focused in French Guiana was in development and in the past, in the IG stories of Thomas Ziegler I saw how zookeepers of this aquarium travelled to Kolner Zoo to learn how to make training of the highly endangered philippine crocodile, so maybe we could see this species in the future.

100% recommended, it's beside the Paris Zoo and is perfectly complementary to a visit to the zoo, this aquarium is not big and you can see with no hurries in 1 or 1 and a half hour.
 
XI - Aquarium de Paris

In the other corner of the city, Paris has a secondary aquarium, in the shores of the Seine River. It's possible to arrive by other ways, but if you have time and the opportunity, I recommed arrive by foot, following the river and seeing all the touristic historic monuments of Paris.

If you go for example, from the Menagerie to the Aquarium, you'll see the Louvre gardens, Notre-Dame... and of course, the Eiffel Tower, that's found in the other side of the shore where the aquarium is found.

Opened in 1878, this aquarium was the first one in the world and in 1985 was closed due to bad situation of the tanks, reopening in 2006, thanks to de founds of foreign investors.

This aquarium is 100% complementary to the Aquarium de Porte Dorèe. If the exhibition and collections of the first one is product of a "wonderful crazy mind", the Aquarium de Paris is a commercial one, and mainly focused on sea species.

All the sensation is that is a modern place, with lots of modern pedagogy (touch screens, electronic panels...) and you haven't got the sensation that you are visiting an european aquarium. All the decoration, the didactic talks (including an encounter with a mermaid in the goldfish tanks for the children)... gives you the impression that you are in the typical japanese aquarium.

All the tanks were good and the collection (typical commercial collection with sharks, sea horses, big fishes, clownfishes...) was not bad, but I didn't had the same sensation of details and love for the fish conservation that I found in Porte Dorèe.

The really big point of the aquarium is the wonderful jellyfish collection, the biggest outside Japan (don't ask me which are the rarest, I'm a bird freak not a marine freak). The pedagogy shows how the aquarium staff travelled to Japan to see how develop the aquariums and the care of this wonderful sea invertebrates.

In resume, if I have to choose between the two aquariums, I prefer the Porte Dorèe. It's smallest but has more personality, but the Aquarium de Paris it's also interesting for a tourist day in the city. It's near to Eiffel Tower and for visit one time, not bad.

After spend two days in the city I must say that it's 100% viable make the 2 zoos and the 2 aquariums, with no hurries or run (including making stops to visit monuments and historic places) and even if you are a crazy mind, I made the calculations in the head and it's possible to see the 4 places in a summer day with good opening times (that's for the crazy species hunter that want to add concrete species or if the two zoos have add just one or two new species interesting for them), but, even with this situation, I don't recommend to do. The visit to the zoos and aquariums is more enriching if you complement with a slow visit to the city, and Paris deserves this.
 
XII - WOW Safari Thoiry

Found in the West of Paris, and opened in the Château de Thoiry, this zoo was opened by the count Antoine de La Panouse, who created the park in 1965 in the gardens of the castle.

Today this park is part of the Wow Group (owner of the Safari Peaugres and Wild Park Santo Inacio in Portugal) as a mixture of zoo and safari in a big 150 ha park. Appart of the zoological garden, the park has a service of bungalows with vision to black bears, artic wolfs and african elephants enclosures and a nocturnal visit called "Thoiry Lumières Sauvages" (I didn't visit).

The general vision you have when you visit this zoo is that is a zoo 100% commercial, focused in the business and show "sexy species" for the public, but very well designed. There isn't any bad enclosure in all the park and the natural landscape helps a lot to create a relaxing space both for the public and for the animals.

In the pedestrian area, you found lots of enclosures for primates (lemurs, gorillas, mangabeys...), carnivores (maned wolf, tigers, spotted hyena, big cats...) and other mammals (Wallabys, ungulates)

The primates have very good enclosures, the gorillas have a big island who share with other african primates, the lemurs have a big walkthrough area and the tonkeans macaques have a very big and nice enclosure in an area of grassland. It was wonderful to see these macaques in a beautiful enclosure (last one I could see them was in the now closed zoo de la Orangerie d'Strabourg in a small enclosure, and I didn't had a good remember of them)

Carnivores also had very good enclosures, all of them in big forest areas, with the possibility of see them from the high, to the same level and in some case (lions and tigers) from a tunnel under the animals (this same kind of design I saw in the Zoo de Santo Inacio).

The enclosure most interesting of this area is the "arche des petites bêtes" a very beautiful vivarium, designed like the Noah's Ark, very focused in endangered species of reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and marmosets and divided in freshwater, desert, tropical, ocean and nocturnal areas. I really loved, not only for the enclosures for the animals, also because part of the indoor design was made like the room of a naturalist, full of books, notebooks, designs... It was like "ey, it's like my room". A very nice design. The outdoor area of the Ark is landscaped with wetland and plants, with the intention of make amphibians and invertebrates can recolonise the area.

Of the other enclosures of the pedestrian area there is not much to say. Good for the animals but any of them specially diferent.

For visit the safari area, you have two options, go by you own car or pay an extra for a visit in a truck of the park.

This area has very good points, but some bad points.

The first one is that the impression you have is that animal population is under a very good control. You don't have the vision that you have in some spanish safaris that there is over population of animals. The landscape also helps to have a very nice and relaxing vision of the animals in beautiful green forests or prairies. The dangerous animals like elephants or white rhinos are separated of the public by good security mesures. This could be look logic but I've seen enough images in social medias of bad safaris where you see the tourists getting out of the car in safari areas in contact, for example, with elephants.

The bad point is that there are some animals that maybe are not the better for a safari. The american area, for example, was very interesting. You have the opportunity to go by car by an area with grey wolfes and american black bears, and the vision of these in a forest like if you are in Yellowstone is wonderful, but there are animals like coyotes, that are in different areas, you can not enjoy them as good as a big mammal like a rhino or if you see them in a pedestrian enclosure. In the five-star species enclosures, the overcrowding of vehicles also made a little difficult to enjoy the animals. But in general, the visit to this area is very good and enjoyable.

For finish, Thoiry Safari is a very good zoo, and except the bird lovers (there aren't so much bird enclosures and all of them where complementary to other enclosures), is a zoo for all kind of public, both freaks (the ark of small beasts) and commercial (big animals in XXL enclosures). I really enjoyed the visit and I'll probably repeat if I have opportunity in the future.
 
XIII - Naturospace Honfleur

Now it's time to travel to the nord, to the green temperate coast of Normandie and for begin, the picturesque coastal city of Honfleur.

This city is place of one of the most beautiful butterfly gardens I've ever seen, the Naturospace. This park was created in 1998 by Benoit Damico as an example of sustainable development for tropical farms, importing chrisalids of tropical butterflies, breed in natural farms in French Guiana and other tropical countries.

What this naturalist has created is a jewel. First two things the visitor is going to found are a film about butterflies called "metamorphosis papilionum" in a screening room and a small exhibition with different stuffed invertebrates. And then, the entrance to the Garden of Eden.

According to the web, this small butterfly house is for stay 45 minutes - 1 hour, but if you are a truly freak of plants and insects you could spend all time you want and never get tired. The full greenhouse is plain of tropical vegetation (Both for decoration and feed the butterflies and catterpillars), the enclosure is full of different butterflies species (It's impossible make a list of species) and the environment is completed with the songs of touracos, roulrouls, lorikeets and fruit doves. And that's the part I most love, not only because I'm a bird lover, but for the attention to the details.

There are lots of XXL greenhouse like burgers bush or Beauval's dome, but all of then doesn't have a real sensation of art. They are big enclosures, full of vegetation and from time to time you can see birds (Depending of the year and lucky) and that's it.

There is also small "butterfly houses" that the owners decided that the best idea is introduce big parrots and, result? from have a small, beautiful and charming garden to have an enclosure with all the vegetation destroyed.

Honfleur has the perfect balance. Full of vegetation for make an attractive design for the public for make the sensation of be in the jungle but not enough to not see anything, full of butterflies of all shapes and colors, a good selection of colorfoul birds, enough to give the color and sound note, but not fully for make destroy the environment.

It's a very special place, highly recommended for a visit to Normandie and a good complement for visit other zoos of the area like CERZA.
 
XIV - Clères Zoological Park

From a modern work of art to a old work of art, now it's time to visit the Clères Zoological Park.

First time I heard about this zoo was when I was a bachellor and completely obsesed with Gerald Durrell history (well like today). In his book "the ark anniversary", Durrell told the story of how he began to develop the project of the zoo and where to make it, and how he made consults to conservationists of his time like Peter Scott or Jean Fischer, and between others, he made the visit to the ornitologist Jean Delacour.

In his book, he made a description of Monsieur Delacour and his gardens in Clères and talked about "the gardens plain of goose, axis and other deers, the islands with gibbons and the cages with pheasants with a plumage like bissutery". When Durrell asked him if there was hope, the answer he gave was a clear vision of this ornithologist: "Yes, if we began to practice the canibalism".

Talk about Jean Delacour is talk about respect, conservation, perseverence and science. He was one of the founders of the International Council for Bird Preservation (today Birdlife International), of the ALPFZA and World Pheasant Association, he made expeditions to Indochine and Madagascar between 1923 and 1939 to describe new species and import new species for zoological gardens (including the highly endangered Edward's Pheasant), he made four of the "bibles" of the aviculture (The Pheasants of the World, The Waterfowl of the World, Wild Pigeons and Doves and Curassows of the world) and lots of publications about ornithology and aviculture... What else can say except thank you master? The city of Clères also shows the respect he deserves. In the tourist places, there is lots of information about the founder of the park.

The history of the park is also remarcable. Bought by Delacour in 1919 as a place to aclimate species from his world trave and like a place to study zoology and botanic, the park oppened in 1930 to the public, the park and the collection was destroyed not one, TWO TIMES by the two world wars and the two times the collection was rebuilt practically from zero. Let's speak clear, how many of us, if we were in the same situation, could have the same force to make it? Before his death in 1989, Jean Delacour gave the collection in 1966 to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle for continue the work of conservation, education and investigation.

Coming back to the visit, this park is just recommended if you are a nature, zoo history or bird lover, if you except XXL architecture enclosures, lots of rare species or commercial places, don't visit this park, but if you respect the history of the zoos or the legacy of the old masters, this is a must to see place.

The sensations of the park is exactly the same that Durrell had in the 50s when he visited Jean before create the Jersey Zoo. The gardens full of different species of waterfowls, cranes, chinese water deer, wallabys, muntjacks, axis and blackbucks in completely free, the gibbons in their nature vegetated islands and in the center of the park, the beautiful chateau de Clères (today a nice coffee shop and area for temporary expositions).

Beside the château there are the historical bird enclosures, as a testimony of the legacy of Delacour. This area is home of northern white-cheeked gibbons (in small enclosures but with lots of elements to climb), tamarins, Alaotran Gentle Lemurs, red pandas and a interesting collection of endangered birds species. All the enclosures are of the "old school" design, but the inside is 100% updated. Accustomed to seeing or work with pheasants and other birds in ugly chicken coops with no vegetation and natural decoration, is awesome see these same species in humble facilities but very nice in design and with nature substrate, branches, vegetations, stones...

If you visit this park, I recommend also buy the book "Memories d'un ornithologiste". In this book, the deceased ornithologist talks about his vision of conservation, the history of the park, his travels searching birds... Highly recommended to complement the visit.
 
Corby93 said:
XIV - Clères Zoological Park

From a modern work of art to a old work of art, now it's time to visit the Clères Zoological Park.

First time I heard about this zoo was when I was a bachellor and completely obsesed with Gerald Durrell history (well like today). In his book "the ark anniversary", Durrell told the story of how he began to develop the project of the zoo and where to make it, and how he made consults to conservationists of his time like Peter Scott or Jean Fischer, and between others, he made the visit to the ornitologist Jean Delacour.

In his book, he made a description of Monsieur Delacour and his gardens in Clères and talked about "the gardens plain of goose, axis and other deers, the islands with gibbons and the cages with pheasants with a plumage like bissutery". When Durrell asked him if there was hope, the answer he gave was a clear vision of this ornithologist: "Yes, if we began to practice the canibalism".

Talk about Jean Delacour is talk about respect, conservation, perseverence and science. He was one of the founders of the International Council for Bird Preservation (today Birdlife International), of the ALPFZA and World Pheasant Association, he made expeditions to Indochine and Madagascar between 1923 and 1939 to describe new species and import new species for zoological gardens (including the highly endangered Edward's Pheasant), he made four of the "bibles" of the aviculture (The Pheasants of the World, The Waterfowl of the World, Wild Pigeons and Doves and Curassows of the world) and lots of publications about ornithology and aviculture... What else can say except thank you master? The city of Clères also shows the respect he deserves. In the tourist places, there is lots of information about the founder of the park.

The history of the park is also remarcable. Bought by Delacour in 1919 as a place to aclimate species from his world trave and like a place to study zoology and botanic, the park oppened in 1930 to the public, the park and the collection was destroyed not one, TWO TIMES by the two world wars and the two times the collection was rebuilt practically from zero. Let's speak clear, how many of us, if we were in the same situation, could have the same force to make it? Before his death in 1989, Jean Delacour gave the collection in 1966 to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle for continue the work of conservation, education and investigation.

Coming back to the visit, this park is just recommended if you are a nature, zoo history or bird lover, if you except XXL architecture enclosures, lots of rare species or commercial places, don't visit this park, but if you respect the history of the zoos or the legacy of the old masters, this is a must to see place.

The sensations of the park is exactly the same that Durrell had in the 50s when he visited Jean before create the Jersey Zoo. The gardens full of different species of waterfowls, cranes, chinese water deer, wallabys, muntjacks, axis and blackbucks in completely free, the gibbons in their nature vegetated islands and in the center of the park, the beautiful chateau de Clères (today a nice coffee shop and area for temporary expositions).

Beside the château there are the historical bird enclosures, as a testimony of the legacy of Delacour. This area is home of northern white-cheeked gibbons (in small enclosures but with lots of elements to climb), tamarins, Alaotran Gentle Lemurs, red pandas and a interesting collection of endangered birds species. All the enclosures are of the "old school" design, but the inside is 100% updated. Accustomed to seeing or work with pheasants and other birds in ugly chicken coops with no vegetation and natural decoration, is awesome see these same species in humble facilities but very nice in design and with nature substrate, branches, vegetations, stones...

If you visit this park, I recommend also buy the book "Memories d'un ornithologiste". In this book, the deceased ornithologist talks about his vision of conservation, the history of the park, his travels searching birds... Highly recommended to complement the visit.
Click to expand...
Nice review. I’ve been to Cleres twice and it’s like touching history. Love that place. Two minor points though: certainly when I was there in April 2024 there were no Axis Deer in the park, although apparently there were a few across the road with no public access. They had stopped breeding them, although that might change. The Blackbuck are stunning. Delacour’s collection that was destroyed in the First World War was not at Cleres, but at Villers Bretonneux (I may have not spelt that correctly) in Picardy.
Also, in the park is the remains of the building where Joan of Arc was imprisoned by the English
 
FBBird said:
Nice review. I’ve been to Cleres twice and it’s like touching history. Love that place. Two minor points though: certainly when I was there in April 2024 there were no Axis Deer in the park, although apparently there were a few across the road with no public access. They had stopped breeding them, although that might change. The Blackbuck are stunning. Delacour’s collection that was destroyed in the First World War was not at Cleres, but at Villers Bretonneux (I may have not spelt that correctly) in Picardy.
Also, in the park is the remains of the building where Joan of Arc was imprisoned by the English
Click to expand...

Thank you for the points!, Yeah you are right in both of them, I forgot to add that the first collection wasn't on Clères and specially for the axis deer, I don't know why my mind made me see them in my reminds with the group of blackbucks! (Dam bad memory!)

I didn't know the part of Joan of Arc! very interesting!
 
Corby93 said:
Thank you for the points!, Yeah you are right in both of them, I forgot to add that the first collection wasn't on Clères and specially for the axis deer, I don't know why my mind made me see them in my reminds with the group of blackbucks! (Dam bad memory!)

I didn't know the part of Joan of Arc! very interesting!
Click to expand...
In ‘The Living Air’, Delacour refers to Axis and Pseudaxis (Vietnamese Sika) in the Parc, I wonder how long the latter persisted? Forgot to ask when I was there. Historically interesting fact; both Axis and Blackbuck derived, at least in part, from Alfred Ezra’s stock. Unbroken line of Blackbuck there going back possibly a hundred years (makes a mental note to find out when Ezra started with those species, which presumably came from his brother in Calcutta!)
 
Corby93 said:
XIV - Clères Zoological Park

From a modern work of art to a old work of art, now it's time to visit the Clères Zoological Park.

First time I heard about this zoo was when I was a bachellor and completely obsesed with Gerald Durrell history (well like today). In his book "the ark anniversary", Durrell told the story of how he began to develop the project of the zoo and where to make it, and how he made consults to conservationists of his time like Peter Scott or Jean Fischer, and between others, he made the visit to the ornitologist Jean Delacour.

In his book, he made a description of Monsieur Delacour and his gardens in Clères and talked about "the gardens plain of goose, axis and other deers, the islands with gibbons and the cages with pheasants with a plumage like bissutery". When Durrell asked him if there was hope, the answer he gave was a clear vision of this ornithologist: "Yes, if we began to practice the canibalism".

Talk about Jean Delacour is talk about respect, conservation, perseverence and science. He was one of the founders of the International Council for Bird Preservation (today Birdlife International), of the ALPFZA and World Pheasant Association, he made expeditions to Indochine and Madagascar between 1923 and 1939 to describe new species and import new species for zoological gardens (including the highly endangered Edward's Pheasant), he made four of the "bibles" of the aviculture (The Pheasants of the World, The Waterfowl of the World, Wild Pigeons and Doves and Curassows of the world) and lots of publications about ornithology and aviculture... What else can say except thank you master? The city of Clères also shows the respect he deserves. In the tourist places, there is lots of information about the founder of the park.

The history of the park is also remarcable. Bought by Delacour in 1919 as a place to aclimate species from his world trave and like a place to study zoology and botanic, the park oppened in 1930 to the public, the park and the collection was destroyed not one, TWO TIMES by the two world wars and the two times the collection was rebuilt practically from zero. Let's speak clear, how many of us, if we were in the same situation, could have the same force to make it? Before his death in 1989, Jean Delacour gave the collection in 1966 to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle for continue the work of conservation, education and investigation.

Coming back to the visit, this park is just recommended if you are a nature, zoo history or bird lover, if you except XXL architecture enclosures, lots of rare species or commercial places, don't visit this park, but if you respect the history of the zoos or the legacy of the old masters, this is a must to see place.

The sensations of the park is exactly the same that Durrell had in the 50s when he visited Jean before create the Jersey Zoo. The gardens full of different species of waterfowls, cranes, chinese water deer, wallabys, muntjacks, axis and blackbucks in completely free, the gibbons in their nature vegetated islands and in the center of the park, the beautiful chateau de Clères (today a nice coffee shop and area for temporary expositions).

Beside the château there are the historical bird enclosures, as a testimony of the legacy of Delacour. This area is home of northern white-cheeked gibbons (in small enclosures but with lots of elements to climb), tamarins, Alaotran Gentle Lemurs, red pandas and a interesting collection of endangered birds species. All the enclosures are of the "old school" design, but the inside is 100% updated. Accustomed to seeing or work with pheasants and other birds in ugly chicken coops with no vegetation and natural decoration, is awesome see these same species in humble facilities but very nice in design and with nature substrate, branches, vegetations, stones...

If you visit this park, I recommend also buy the book "Memories d'un ornithologiste". In this book, the deceased ornithologist talks about his vision of conservation, the history of the park, his travels searching birds... Highly recommended to complement the visit.
Click to expand...

In my top 5 zoos I've visited.
As a castle lover, exploring the gardens and its castle would have been enough to fill my day.
But the aviary section is truly sublime, and for rare species hunters like me, the bird rarities really enriched my visit.
A place I would 100% recommend.
Thank you, Corby, for this fascinating review.
 
XV - CERZA (or the zoo cool known as Centre d'Étude et de Reproduction Zoologique Augeron)

Appart of the conservation project of monsieur Delacour, Normandie is born place of other big zoo-conservation project, the zoos propierty of Jardin family, and CERZA was the first one of them.

Opened in 1986, in the landscape of a 50 ha farm, the brothers Jardin had in mind the vision of a place to breed endangered species in great landscapes, and despite the difficulties of create a zoo from zero, the park has follow this way and the big enclosures made a big project, that made the creation of other two zoos, the Parc des Felins (today Lumigny Safari Reserve) in 1998 and Biotropica in 2012.

CERZA is, like Thoiry, a mixture between safari and zoo, but, to difference with Thoiry, the park has a free train to allow see the animals, and practically all the enclosures can be seen by foot (with the exception of the enclosures for american buffalos, reindeers and some african ungulates). For nature shooters, the bad point is that the rattle of the train makes difficult take good shoots, but is a nice walk.

Despite the XXL size of the park (75 ha), the visit to CERZA is not a "run men, we have to see all the park". You can easily walk around the zoo more than once, and still have time to take the train two more times.

For the visitor, the park is a delight. Attractive animals, nice environment, nice decoration... I really enjoyed the area focused in artic and indonesian species, because showed how you can make thematic areas without spend lots and lots of money, and the sensation that you were in a cabaign in the artic with explorers, searching polar bears or in the middle of a bali coffee shop while you enjoy of gibbons, babyrousas... was fantastic, and all without having to stop prioritizing animal welfare.

All the animals in the park have wonderful big and natural enclosures (maybe just one or two were a little bit small, but not lowercase) and some space were fantastic. For example, indian rhinoceros and other asian ungulates had a 3 ha prairie and the giraffe enclosure was also of 6 ha.

Primates also had very good enclosures. Gibbons and siamangs live in the typical islands (Big enough for them) and geladas, lion-tailed macaques and Celebes crested macaques lived in great prairies with stone or climbing elements (depending of the species). Geladas lived alone, but lion tailed macaques share their enclosure with binturongs and Celebes macaques with asian otters.

The great point of the park, the breeding of endangered species is perfect exemplified with the enclosures for soudan cheetahs. The park has invested in create different enclosures (including several off-shows), making possible to mix the males between females and stimulate them.

The new area developed by the park is a south american area for capybaras, tapirs and giant anteaters and this year a new XXL aviary is in development.

Appart of the XXL outside enclosures, the park also has a relatively small vivarium.

A very interesting park, with a very combination of big enclosures with rare big mammal species (Mesopotamian fallow deer, spectacled bears, babyrousas...) and mandatory for visit for nature shooters (the beautiful landscapes make ideal scenarios for the photography)
 
XVI - Biotropica

And from the XXL CERZA we go to the tropical environments of Biotropica, a relatively new zoo, opened in 2012 a relatively small park that combines outside big enclosures with a big greenhouse.

Like the enclosures of CERZA, all the enclosures of Biotropica are big for the animals, well tematized for the public, but the difference is that this park is focused in small-medium species.

First area found is the south american area, divided in three areas, one for south america coast for Humboldt's penguins, other for the tropical forest, home of crab-eating racoon and squirrel monkeys and other for the pampa, with enclosures for giant anteaters, rheas, vizcachas, blue-throated macaws... All the two areas are wonderful tematized, and there is a clear difference between the two environments, showing perfectly the two areas.

Next area is "australian bush", an inmersive area for kangaroos, wallabys and magpie gooses, followed by "brousse africaine", a section focused in small african species and a big enclosures for Soudan Cheetahs. Like the other two parks of the family Jardin, the enclosure for cheetah is a big prairie, big space and (always) a jeep as decoration for the enclosure. The small enclosures includes sections for ground squirrels, meerkats and Saharan striped polecat.

Beside this area we found the coffee area, with vision to the pelicans lake, and also the Asian garden, a very nice tematized chinese gardens with enclosures for asian neddle-clawed otter, kois and japanese cranes.

After the visit to this area, we go to the big greenhouse, a very big tropical area, were you can see species from south america, south east asia, Australia and the Indian Ocean. Some of the enclosure are a little bit extrange of design, for example, the first aviary for argus and other south-east asian species or the aviary for Livingstone's and Lyle's flying-fox, didn't had specially good points of view of the animals, but I found all the area good for all the species. A very curious combination was the enclosure for juveniles of gharials that also was home for grey slender loris. The aquariums are a delighful for aquarists, plain of endangered species like the tambrparni barb. The collection of this area is very variated with sloths, Komodo dragons, lorikeets, tamanduas, marmosets, reptiles and amphibians... and the highest point, the crocodile enclosures. Appart of the enclosure for the juveniles gharials, the park had a big pond for adults, that they were temporary placed there while they were building a biggest enclosure called "the gharial sanctuary", a big aviary for the gharials but also for fishes and indian birds (when I visited the park was in construction and I saw that yesterday was published in facebook that the work has finished). I found very interesting the work of zoos for critically endangered species like that.

After have visited the three parks (I visited the formerly called Parc des Felins in 2017), I've seen how interesting is that the three are to the same time very similar and very different, complementing each other in the collection but with similar design of enclosures and decoration. Of the three, I found the collection of Biotropica the most interesting (sorry, I'm a bird lover and small-species lover) but the design of the enclosures of CERZA, making the environments both for the animals and visitors very realistic, made an inmersive visit (I didn't remember this same feeling in Parc des Felins, but with the new evolutions of the park, I have interest to see the evolution they had in the last years)

About the work of the three parks, like the mandalorian says "this is the way". Big enclosures, not agobiated visits, good decoration, very good focused in make attractives enclosures for the public and collections focused in endangered species. The Jardin family is the example of how things must be made. The 2 normandians parks, highly recommended.
 
XVII - Reserve Zoologique de Calviac

Near the caves of Lascaux, in the department of Dordogne, land of mediterranean rural landscapes, goose farms and delicious pâté, there is a wonderful small beautiful zoo called the Reserve Zoologique de Calviac.

This zoo was founded by Emmanuel Mouton in an old wild farm who decided to create a place for save endangered small species, inspired by the books of Gerald Durrell.

Having the naturalist Jacques Bouillant (Naturalist and founder of zoo de la Flêche) as mentor, Pierre Gay and the Bioparc-Doue (and his beautiful landscape of nature vegetation, cliffs, waterfalls...) as inspiration for the "mise en scène" and the DESMAN training of the Jersey Zoo as a base for the project, monsieur Mouton has created one of the most beautiful nature zoos I've ever seen and (in the category of small zoos), the best collection. 45 species of which practicelly the 90% are part of regional breeding programs or part of in situ conservation programs.

The general vision you have in Calviac is that all buildings and enclosures are part of the landscape. The wooden staff buildings, animal indoors, toilets... make them part of the place. The design of geographic areas, walks and enclosures (as says one friend of mine decorator), creates lots of beautiful small spaces for the rest and connection with nature (The inspiration that Bioparc Doue has made in the design is very noticeable). I've seen how directors of small bad zoos they complain about "we need millions of euros for create a good zoo". Calviac shows that what you need is not money. It's a good taste for the design.

First area you find in the park is the Eurasia area. Appart of a beautiful walk-through area for storks and owls, and enclosure for susliks (I don't know why the f... more big zoos don't have this species, is a wonderfull substitute for black-tailed prairie dog), the park has beautiful nature outdoor terrariums for rodents and european reptiles (I love travel to other european countries and see exhibitions like that, above all when are iberian species that are NOT shown in spanish zoos), probably the biggest red pand enclosure I've ever seen (in the past they had wolverines, but with the change, the enclosure now is full of nature vegetation, in my opinion, the park has won with the change) and a big nature enclosure for european minks, a very important species for the park, because the park is part of the french reintroduction program. And now is when we say "ok, very cool, but having an invisible species it's not the best idea for a zoo", but in calviac, practically to 100%... YOU CAN SEE ACTIVE EUROPEAN MINKS!. The biggest part of the breeding animals are in off show enclosures but the park makes all the days a daily keeper talk, in that a very friendly male makes his appearence between the vegetation, and not only you are going to see it, THE MAN POSES FOR PHOTOS! I think is the park where I've better seen an european mink and taken best photos of the species (and in a very nature landscapes)

Next area is Madagascar area, all composed by big wooden "aviaries" for 7 lemurs species, 3 ducks (Meller's, Bernier and ferruginous duck), hamerkops and fossas. There is lot to say about this area. First, is wonderful see the design of nature enclosures. Second, is good see how a zoo has decided to accommodate lemurs in separate enclosures (best results for breeding them is keep them separate by species and not in big enclosures with all species together). Third is wonderful to see the quality of the collection of this area. Practically all endangered species, and lots of rarities (white-collared, red-bellied, Sclaters...) and with good results in breeding them including fossas and Alaotran gentle lemur. And for last, the in situ work of the park, represented by the Sclater's black lemur. The park is part of the AECCL and part of his work is fund conservation work in the Sahamalaza Peninsula, one of the last refugees of this beautiful species. And how wants to inspire public? One of the next projects of the park is recreate this area, creating a small greenhouse, similar to Masoala one of Zurich Zoo, for Sclater's black lemur, but also for birds, reptiles and amphibians. What are we waiting for promote this park and see this project making it real?

Next area is the South American one, a place with enclosures for maned wolfs, a prairie for capybaras, tapirs and chajas (that is going to be expanded), a margay enclosure, very similar to the parc des felins design (small aviary, made of wood and mesh, divided for separate the pair most of the year) and very beautiful enclosures for south american small primates (sakis, saimiris, Goeldi's, emperor and golden lion tamarin) and other south american small mammals (pudu, agouti), that two of them are built with a limit of a pond for the public, making the impression that the tamarins are practically free ranging. Comparing to the typical aviary or small enclosure for tamarins, seeing them jumping in trees and nature vegetation is simply wonderful.

For finish there are two small areas, the Oceania one, with inmersive areas for wallabys, pademelons and birds and one enclosure for bettongs, and the Western Africa one, with an enclosure for pygmy hippopotamus, connected to an inmersive area for sitatungas, this area of a very beautiful landscape, very attractive for the public and with lot of space and hidden areas to retire for the animals.

What can we say about this zoo except that is like Jersey Zoo and Bioparc Doue get married and had a child and you can see both the collection focused in small endangered species and the landscapes of the second one, mixed with the fund of in situ projects of both of them. The education level of the park is also high. All over the day, there are educational talks for the public (appart of the european mink the talks are about lemurs, red pandas, maned wolfs...)

The future of the park also looks very interesting. Last time I visited this park was in summer 2020 and in this 5 years, there has been a very good evolution (the evolution has been biggest than the majority of big spanish zoos). And the future projects (appart of the Madagascar) greenhouse look very interesting (according to interviews, there are in plan, for example, new areas for Celebes and Philippines species).

The visit to this park is highly recommended. Despite the small size, all the rarities (ey species hunters, first zoo I've seen where you can see 100% european mink), the possibility to make good photos in nature landscapes, the vision of butterflies and other wild insects in the place, the relaxing place... makes the park a place to spend a good relaxing time.
 
XVIII - Parc Animalier de Gramat

When I was in Dordogne, looking for possible places to visit, I didn't planned visit this zoo, but I received the recommedation from a friend to visit. God bless him.

As a fan of nature integrated zoos, I simply enjoyed the visit to this place, and for a person fan of local or regional wildlife (Not only the ABCspecies) I f... loved the collection, a representation of practicelly all carnivore and ungulates present in France, including pyrineen chamois. But, this park is not perfect, had some little bad points (I'm going to begin with this for make the good points even better).

The park has a very good collection of small carnivores (european genett, stone marten...) but the enclosures were a little bit small. In my opinion, after work with animals like kinkajous and european genetts, animals like that should have an space of at least 100m2. We don't see them at day, but at night they don't stop of moving, searching in the ground for food, but the enclosures were not of the kind of "sh... we must set it on fire". Despite the relatively small size, they were plain of branches and other structures like that to make possible animals climb. So not bad, could be better but not bad.

I can say the same of the pheasants and other gamefowls (including rarities like Javan peafowl, arabian partridge and capercaillies) enclosures. All of them were a little bit small, these were true chicken coops, they were a little bit ugly, but one more time, not 100% bad for the animals. The design was simple and not sexy, but not bad for the animals, with vegetation to hide, sand and grass and areas to hide from sun and drafts.

Now let's go with the good points, that this park had a lot. First of all, the sensation of all the enclosures 100% integrated in the nature. The forest landscape helped a lot, and made it easy, but I've seen lots of "recovery centers" or "sanctuaries" in Spain that were also in forest landscape that didn't had this same sensation due to bad design or because the enclosures were really small. In Gramat, all the enclosures were big, plain of nature vegetation and you had a very relaxing sensation of see, for example, red deers in their nature environment.

Appart of the "a little bit small" enclosures for small carnivores I had mentioned before, the park had very good enclosures for other species. European badgers, wolfs, foxes, lynxes, otters and brown bears were in very good environments, and I enjoyed the bear enclosure. It was like a small replica of Cabarceno one, and was perfect for the only individual I could see. It made a very beautiful vision see the bear between flowers, grasses and trees and not in a concrete enclosure.

The park also had two walk-through enclosures, one aviary for european wetland birds and other for alpine species (ibex and chamois). This last was closed for the public when I visited, but for a good reason. The animals were in breeding season, with newborns. It was a little bit sad (the vision in outside was a wonderful landscape with a nature big waterfall in the middle of the enclosure), but I found it responsible for the wellfare of the animals. Very good for the direction!

To level of education, the park had a lot of interpretation and I found really good that every european animal of the collection had a representation of his foodprint.

For finish, this park is another really interesting park. A very good collection of french and european species (european elks, pyrinean and alpine chamoises, badgers, european wildcats, spanish and alpine ibexs...) makes the park a must visit to european species lover and the nature landscape makes a place very beautiful to visit (over all for nature shooters).
 
XIX Reptiland Martel

Relatively near of the medieval city of Rocamadour, there is a small beautiful reptile house, the reptiland.

This reptile collection is placed in an hexagonal building, and is composed of different sections, each one with a battery of terrariums showing different species of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.

The terrariums are very simple for the animals, and some of them without no much decoration (could be more tematized), but I didn't see any animal with signs of bad care like retained molts, optical problems...

The collection, in the other way, is a simply wonderful. Appart of the typical phelsumas, monitor lizards, Birmanian pythons... there were lots of poisonous relatively rare snakes (snouted cobra, green mamba, indonesian cobra...), autoctonous french species (aspid viper, ocellated lizard, yellow green racer...) and (to my surprise) a Congo dwarf crocodile!!! For a moment I thought that was the same that used to live in zoo de Santillana del Mar (according to ztl and different crocodiles reports, this supposed to be the only one in Europe), but no, talking with the zookeepers, the animals had lived there for lot of time.

This small collection is quite far, but, if you visit the tourist place of Rocamadour, it's very interesting to visit. The collection is really nice and the staff very sympatique and if you a reptile freak you are really going to enjoy the place.
 
XX - Aquarium La Rochelle

Recommended by a good friend, over all because "there is a big collection of jellyfishes and invertebrates and that's always a good point", I visited this touristic aquarium, and I must call it touristic due to all the design. If you visit Aquarium Biarritz, the sensation you have is that you are in a museum or in a investigation place. The sensation of Aquarium La Rochelle is that is a place to attract lot of tourists (specially children) but with a very good design both for the public and the animals!

To enter the aquarium (after a little bit big wait, if you make like I did, visiting the place in a sunny day), you enter in a underwater capsule and you make the inmersion in the profundities of the sea. I found it very nice and interesting for the children, a really wonderful concept.

First area is dedicated to atlantic ocean, and you find the typical aquariums for european species, but, with lots of them open to the public with different species of sea snails, sea urchins, sea cucumbers... The big aquariums of this area, include the typical species of fishes, but with a very special one, the european sea sturgeon (Acipenser sturio). But, why a fish that we found in lots of zoos do you say is special? First, it's true that lots of zoos and aquariums have surgeons, but, according to ztl, just 30 have this species. Second, this one is a highly Critically Endangered species. In the past was found in practically all Europe, but today there are between 20-700 mature individuals in the wild, just in the Garonne River in France. We loss the mind for make good shoots in zoos of rare endangered european species like the iberian lynx, but, how many times we show real interest for species like that? And is as endangered or more than other charismatic european species! It was wonderful see these gentle giants in the aquarium.

Other good point, like my friend said, was the jellyfish collection. Lots of different species appart of the typical Aurelia aurita and Cassiopea sp.

Next area is the tropical seas aquariums (typical selection of Indian, mangroves...) all of them very nice and with lots of species, including some rarities for the species hunters. Like other big aquariums, la Rochelle has the inevitable typical big aquarium for sharks and other big fishes.

Last area is the tropical freshwater area, with two or three big aquariums open with species like piranhas, tarpons... Not really interesting but very nice.

To finish. This aquarium is really nice and interesting to visit, with lots of rare species, but the problem is that is a touristic place in a touristic area. If you want to visit, planify to make in the low season to evite overcrowding. For the rest, a must to see aquarium.
 
XXI - Zoo de Labenne

This small zoo, found near the frontier between Spain and France, was founded by Philippe de Parédés in 1998, as a private animal collection and called Oceania, in a 5 ha landscapes of coastal pines. Transferred to a pair, passionated by animals, the park was renamed as Zoo de Labenne.

This year was my first visit to this small zoo, and what I have discoverd about this zoo, talking with other zoofreaks who have visited this zoo before and see the evolution is that, since the buy of the "new" owners, the park has suffered a wonderful evolution.

Practicelly every year, new developments, new enclosures for visitors or animals, new species... If you compare with the middle spanish zoo (both big and small) this is of respect, overall because during Covid restrictions, the park didn't cry and decided to fight and develop new areas. Chapeau!

The first good point of this small zoo, is the environment. The forested area helps a lot to create wonderful enclosures for the temperate species, but also the enclosure for the tropical species like squirrel monkeys, arasaris or toucans are plain of tropical vegetation.

All enclosures for mammals are perfect for each species, good sizes, good places to retire, lot of vegetation... and one thing I found really wonderful. Some of the animals like ring-tailed lemurs, maras and wallabys were in walk-through areas, and, to difference to other big zoos, that animals are not always trustful to public, I found that, for example maras (sometimes very nervous animal with humans, including their zookeepers), were 100% trustful to visitors and were approaching without signs of stress or fright. The enclosures were so big, it wasn´t like "ey, the mara is near you because had a little space and could scape", they had lot of space, and were with visitors because they wanted. That was a very good sign about how the work with animals is done!

The bird enclosures and collection (including rarities like brolgas, malagasy sacred ibis, palawan hornbills...) were practicelly all in wonderfull aviaries, with lot of nature vegetation. The enclosure for cranes maybe needed a little more of terrestrial space (but they weren't S size) and some of the aviaries were a little bit old, but not bad for the birds, and the impression general is that is a park in evolution. There were areas in work, and the impression is that in next year we are going to have new areas developed. The impression I had also was that the bird collection wasn't gigantic for the staff and was in good numbers to combine an enjoy for the visitor and a good work for the zookeepers.

For the point of the tourist, I found a really nice staff, and that the park was adapted both for spanish and french visitors (I heard lot and lots of my compatriots) and I found very well design for the visitor, just for one point, they didn't give map and visitors complained a little bit for that, but for the rest, wonderful for the visitor. Commercial species (zebras, lynxs, meerkats, lemurs...), nice walkthrough areas... In resume, a very good think business.

For my spanish zoofreaks friends, if you go to French by car through Bordeaux, yes, you must stop in this zoo. Is going to be just 1-2 hours to stop, is a stop as good as any other and the collection of birds, is a REALLY MUST to see.
 
XXI - Bioparc Douè-la-Fontaine or how a zoo can be a work of art

I wanted to leave the best for last, specially so I could elaborate in my impressions in this zoo.

First thing I must say is, as a zoofreak, was a same that took me so long in visit this work of art. Lots of friend that visited before told me "Corby, you must visit this zoo, is going to be an inspiration, you'll see" and after a long long long time I could be visit first this last autumn and after that, I've repeat the visit lots of times. Why? Because Bioparc Doue (for me) is probably the best zoo in the world and is not only a zoo, is a work of art.

But as always, first of all, a little bit of history.

This zoo was opened in 1961 by Louis Gay in an old mining an was opened as a small commercial collection of animals from circus, merchants... the typical begin of lots of small zoos. Learning on the go and making the effort to be different, monsieur Gay glide the zoo as the first mining zoo of the world and created the "Snake Safari", where visitors could walk in an open air enclosure without barriers between boas, pythons and anacondas in a jungle environment between bamboo. In 1972, his son, Pierre, joined the zoo and that was the begin of the change. In 1978, Pierre met Gerald Durrell and inspired by Jersey Zoo began to change the mentatility of the collection and after visit some zoos, the park changed from the typical small zoo to a place where endangered species had landscapes. The first change were the spider-monkeys enclosures, that happened to be in big natural islands plain of natural vegetation. In 2003, François, landscape engineer and Pierre's son joined the team and began to dream the big wonderful enclosures that today we know.

First time I visited zoo, the impressions just arriving to the parking was "This zoo is simply beautiful" and after visited I confirmed "This zoo is a work of art"

Appart of zookeeper, I'm an artist and I'm a son of a painter and I recognize when time and thought are devoted to doing a job, and there are sexy big zoos with sexy enclosures that are like the most beautiful girls in the high school that all the men drool for her when walks through the hallways. Doue is the girl you love when you are mature. Is not as sexy as the first one, but when you look her you see she's of a discreet beauty and after meet her you feel complete in love with her.

Sorry for this begin (I expect nobody consideer it a little bit machist), but, how we can describe a zoo were conservation, good design for animals and incredible good taste are combined? The nature vegetation, the aviaries that don't look aviaries because practicelly you don't see the mess, wooden statues made by nigerian artesans to get funds for the conservation projects... simply a place for relax and connect to the nature.

First enclosure you see is the "Camp of giraffes" a big crater for kordofan giraffes and Grevy's Zebra, designed to show the visitors the symbol animal of the park and the conservation project made by the park and a true example of how zoos can help nature when they want. Monsieur Gay is called "The man who whispered the giraffes" and thanks to him, the Niger giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta) has recovered and multiplied their population. And how my friends had make it? Blaming the people who hunted them? No, making the people who live with giraffes more and more easy. Since 2001, the park began to finance the ONG ASGN and making microcredits for local families and thanks to these actions, Niger giraffes have increased from less than 80 wild animals to more than 650. And that's the constant attitude of the projects of the park all over the world. Making people coexistence with animals.

This area has also two other good points. The restaurant and the "goûter des giraffes". After visit lots of zoos and practicelly all of them see the typical menu of burger, hot dog or sandwich, the restaurant of Doue is like an oasys in the desert. Appart of the good point of the panoramic view of giraffes, what the visitor has a five-course sampler, really delicious with three options, beef, fish, vegetable, of a very good prize. It's wonderful see zoos that give options to clients, overall to vegetarians one, and that can eat a really good food.

The other point, the goûter des giraffes (giraffes' snack) is an educational talk made in the afternoon, that first, the zookeeper explain the visitors the biology and physical adaptations of the giraffes, the conservation project in Niger and after that, the visitors can feed the giraffes with nature vegetation (under supervision of the zookeeper). The vision of the small children feeding the giraffes while they smile and laugh is delicious and show which should be our goal as zookeepers, vets, education staffs... making people love the animals, contact with them and conect with the nature.

Appart of this educational talk, through the day there are other talks highly recommended for the shooters. The carnivore talk (alternating feeding every day for cheetahs and lions), the vulture feeding (in the big amphitheater designed for irrecoverable griffon and black vultures) where you can see how vultures fight for feeding in a carrion and the south-american aviary where you can have the vision of hundred of macaws, amazons and conures, descending of all them to the same time to the feeding areas. All of them makes the public the same sensation, wake up the emotion for the nature.

As a freak bird zookeeper, what I found more interesting were the aviaries, more for the design than for the own collection (that also was wonderful). Let's begin with the okapis aviary, I've seen lots of okapis in the typical prairies, nice for the animals, but nothing in compare with Doue, why? simply for the "mise en scène". It's not the same see the okapis in a prairie than surrounded by bamboo and with the song of grey parrots, turacos and other birds. Or the south-american big aviary, probably the best one in the world. I've seen lots of videos and images of Singapore new aviaries and for me, this one beats them by street (making it clear that the others are also beautiful aviaries), why? Simple meritocracy. It's easy to make a tropical environment in a tropical country. Just put up the XXXL fence and you have the nature environment. Making the sensation, in the middle of France, that you are in a south american cliff, that's the difficult. And that is reflect in the behaviour and reproductive success of the animals. I spoke with a responsable of a bird department about parrots and she said me "I lose my head everyday with nest design for the hyacinths and red-fronted macaws for make them breed and these of Doue make them breed without effort". Other aviary I found really interested was the european one, and in this case, directly touched my heart, both for the collection and for the projects associated with it. My summer holidays were all the years in Cadiz province and my summer zoo was the Zoo Botanico de Jerez, and this aviary shows two of the projects that the Bioparc helps in Cadiz, the recovery of Janda Lagoon and the reintroduction of northern bald ibis. When I was a child, the species was extinct in the wild and thanks to the work of zoo de Jerez, Bioparc Doue (including the purchase of a property in Barbate by Pierre Gay for release captive breed ibis) and other european zoos, the ibis had recolonized the places of my childhood were was extinct. The last aviary is the new dry african aviary, designed for damans and lots of african species. I found it of really smart design, because, when I have work with dry species like vulturine guinea fowl, I've found them very sensitive to wind, humidity and cold. The aviary design, "inside the earth", allows the birds avoid it. Very smart!

For the rest of the park what I can say except "all animals in great space with lot of vegetation (a very good point for the park there wasn't any f... false stone, I simply don't like for decoration)". I didn't found one bad enclosure (I must say that when I first saw the designs of snow leopards and lions designs I didn't like it very much, but time has made his work and now are nice enclosures with nature vegetation) and I'm really exciting to see the new developments announced by the park like the Indonesia aviaries. Like the zoos from Jardin family, this zoo is a real example of how good work can be done, and that is not always a question of money (yeah, in this case there a lots of money invest in the development but so much less compared to other big zoos), is a question of good taste.

For finish the visit to the park, the shop is a place that It's worth it dedicate a little bit of time, even if you don't want to buy anything. Appart of commercial products like the rest of the zoos, the shop sells lots of artesanal products from Madagascar, Niger... and wonderful wooden sculptures made by the nigeriens artesans of the giraffe conservation project (I couldn't evite and I took home a sculpture of a Okapi that now looks my everyday in my table work). Also there is a nice collection of books of the park, and for really interested zookeepers or zoo staff who wants to make career in zoos, there are one book I recommend to purchase: "Une promesse de nature". With Menagerie manor and the stationary ark from Gerald Durrell, I consideer a book obligatory to read to really understand of how our profession and guild should be directed.

For me, this zoo is a must to see for people who wants to work in zoos, more than, for example, Pairi Daiza or Beauval. It's a zoo that you're going to understand better what is real conservation, what is making people connect with the wildlife and why we work in this. In my case, after the first visit to Doue (and after visit lots of zoos in Europe, including Jersey, Berlin, Zurich...), this visit was a real inspiration.

For the moment, this is my last review, tomorrow I'm going to make a resume and a compare between spanish and french situation of the visitors and the zoos, and if anyone wants to comment about this or the other zoos, feel completely free to talk about. I love discuss with education and read comments of zookeepers or zoofreaks who don't think like me and the only reason I practicelly didn't respond the others was for not break the continuity of the reviews.

I must say that I've enjoyed all the comments I've read and all the good vibes and that the comments were always in a very positive way. Thank you very much!
 
That was a great thread. Thanks, Corby.
There are still many parks to discover in France if you come back.
 
Gab_1 said:
That was a great thread. Thanks, Corby.
There are still many parks to discover in France if you come back.
Click to expand...

I'm wishing to come back! I simply love France and the french zoos (I've pending the area of Bretagne, Lyon, the zoo de la Fleche...), and I've enjoyed even the smallest ones.
 
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