My view of Menagérie in Jardin des Plantes:
I had the possibility to visit this zoo in last days of June. Whole Jardin des Plantes is really nice place to spend a day. The zoo is small so you will have enough time to visit Grande Galerie de l Evolution (with very nice room for endengared and extinct species) and Galeries d Anatomie compare et de Paleontologie.
As it is one of the oldest zoo in the world (from 1794) on very small area (5,5ha) and no chance to expand or demolish the old historical buildings, don’t expect any fantastic houses and big enclosures. But it is worth to visit it!
I have to appreciate the way how some of the old enclosures are used now. Old bear pits are now inhabited by red Panda and Binturong. In La Rotunde (originally house for elephants and giraffes) you can see Giant tortoises and cranes in nice grassy enclosures. La Fauverie (Big cat House) is transformed to only three big enclosures with broken terrain, rocks and many plants. And very nice species selection! You can see there Chinese, Clouded and Snow Leopard.
On the other hand I didn’t like Singerie (Ape and Monkey House). You are really happy man if you can see something during the shiny day as the monkeys are behind a little dirty glass. Quite a good possibilities for climbing but I may be you can imagine - quite big species (De Brazza Meerkat, L Hoests Meerkat or Cercocebus torquatus) in not very big cages. There were two little grass islands with a tree for climbing along this house. But it didn’t look some animal had an access for the islands. In fact the islands and their barriers are not good for Meerkats or Mangabeys which were in the cages, but would be quite nice for some marmosets or for some bigger rodents (hutia-konga, urson).
Another negative point about this zoo is using iron fencing in most of ungulates enclosure (also in crane enclosure). I think the animals don’t care about this fencing but may be visitors would be happier if there were low wooden or rock fences and a hole, at least in the bigger enclosures (Persian Fallow deer enclosure, South American enclosure, cranes).
I liked interiors of many enclosures. They were very nice, diverse and full of plants and other natural materials. I can mention pheasantries and other cages for birds, terrariums and already mentioned La Fauverie, Red panda and Binturong enclosure. If you see how nice it is inside, you don’t care that it is just iron cage.
In spite of the fact there is no more Pangolin or Four Horned Antilope, still very nice species collection! Gaur, Pudu, Musk deer, Sichuan Takin, Goral, Caucasian Ibex, Bharal, Korsak, Kagu, Palm-nut Vulture or nice collection of Ara species, some interesting reptiles.
Just look at the pictures in Gallery.
I had the possibility to visit this zoo in last days of June. Whole Jardin des Plantes is really nice place to spend a day. The zoo is small so you will have enough time to visit Grande Galerie de l Evolution (with very nice room for endengared and extinct species) and Galeries d Anatomie compare et de Paleontologie.
As it is one of the oldest zoo in the world (from 1794) on very small area (5,5ha) and no chance to expand or demolish the old historical buildings, don’t expect any fantastic houses and big enclosures. But it is worth to visit it!
I have to appreciate the way how some of the old enclosures are used now. Old bear pits are now inhabited by red Panda and Binturong. In La Rotunde (originally house for elephants and giraffes) you can see Giant tortoises and cranes in nice grassy enclosures. La Fauverie (Big cat House) is transformed to only three big enclosures with broken terrain, rocks and many plants. And very nice species selection! You can see there Chinese, Clouded and Snow Leopard.
On the other hand I didn’t like Singerie (Ape and Monkey House). You are really happy man if you can see something during the shiny day as the monkeys are behind a little dirty glass. Quite a good possibilities for climbing but I may be you can imagine - quite big species (De Brazza Meerkat, L Hoests Meerkat or Cercocebus torquatus) in not very big cages. There were two little grass islands with a tree for climbing along this house. But it didn’t look some animal had an access for the islands. In fact the islands and their barriers are not good for Meerkats or Mangabeys which were in the cages, but would be quite nice for some marmosets or for some bigger rodents (hutia-konga, urson).
Another negative point about this zoo is using iron fencing in most of ungulates enclosure (also in crane enclosure). I think the animals don’t care about this fencing but may be visitors would be happier if there were low wooden or rock fences and a hole, at least in the bigger enclosures (Persian Fallow deer enclosure, South American enclosure, cranes).
I liked interiors of many enclosures. They were very nice, diverse and full of plants and other natural materials. I can mention pheasantries and other cages for birds, terrariums and already mentioned La Fauverie, Red panda and Binturong enclosure. If you see how nice it is inside, you don’t care that it is just iron cage.
In spite of the fact there is no more Pangolin or Four Horned Antilope, still very nice species collection! Gaur, Pudu, Musk deer, Sichuan Takin, Goral, Caucasian Ibex, Bharal, Korsak, Kagu, Palm-nut Vulture or nice collection of Ara species, some interesting reptiles.
Just look at the pictures in Gallery.
