Berlin seems to have a walk trough the park at the moment in this match-up, while I don’t immediately disagree that they might come out on top in this tie. I do however feel it is not as clear as one might think and so I feel obliged to highlight the great things that these two Parisian zoos have for this category. I have not visited either of the French zoos, but as I plan to do both in the future I have somewhat of an idea of these collections. I feel the most familiar with Vincennes, so I will give an overview of Zoo Paris’s best offerings first.
Mammals:
Primates:
@amur leopard - How to combine a great species with excellent husbandry. The Madagascar area contains many fantastic species in great housing.
Species:
Crowned Sifaka and Red-bellied Lemur (this particular enclosure), Black Lemur, Greater Bamboo Lemur, Black and White Ruffed Lemur, White Belted Black and White Ruffed Lemur, Mongoose Lemur (similar enclosures)
@SivatheriumGuy - This island also hosts a group of lemurs in a very lush environment.
Species:
Ring-tailed Lemur and Crowned Lemur
@twilighter - The same fantastic exhibitry goes trough to their South-American primates
Species:
Woolly Monkey (this enclosure), Guianan Bearded Saki and Six-banded Armadillo, White-faced Saki and Red Titi and Pied Tamarin and Linnaeus Two-toed Sloth, Geoffroy’s Tufted Marmoset, Golden-handed Lion Tamarin, Golden-headed Lion Tamarin
Carnivores:
@amur leopard - A fantastic enclosure for a big cat from South America. It has a nice stream of water and is very lush.
Species:
Jaguar
@SivatheriumGuy - A very nice and again lush enclosure for this feisty canine.
Species:
Bush Dog
@twilighter - What is a Madagascar area without the lemur hunter himself in a fantastic enclosure.
Species:
Fossa
Others: South American Tapir and Capybara, Giant Anteater, Rodriguez Flying Fox, Straw-colored Fruit Bat
Birds:
The bulk of the birds relevant to this category all live in the Tropical dome. There are free-flying birds but also separate enclosures
@SivatheriumGuy - an example for one of the enclosures in the tropical dome
Species:
Toco Toucan (this one), Hyacinth Macaw and Yellow-knobbed Curassow, Hyacinth Macaw
Free-flying:
Scarlet Ibis, Roseate Spoonbill,…
@twilighter - The large African aviary does only contain a few species that are relevant to the category, but I thought it to be best to mention it either way.
Species:
Violet Turaco, White-cheeked Turaco, maybe others
Reptiles:
Tropical dome contains a few very good reptile enclosures
@SivatheriumGuy - This one is home to the only crocodilian in the two zoos
Species:
Cuvier’s Dwarf Caiman
@vogelcommando - an open topped enclosure for Iguana that they share with stingray
Species:
Green Iguana, Ocellate River Stingray
Other reptiles include:
Emerald Tree Boa, Green Basilisk, Amazon Tree Boa, Malagasy Tree and Ground Boas, Madagascar Giant Day Gecko, Panther Chameleon,…
You could include the manatee enclosure for the fish that live in there such as
Arapaima, Black Pacu,…
I tried my best to give a good summary of Zoo Paris/Vincennes which have some great husbandry in this category with the tropical dome containing the majority of the animals. I must say thinks to
@StoppableSan for the great species list of his visit in 2023, which helped me situate a lot of species. I hope this overview will provide needed discussion.
