ZooParc de Beauval Pandas for Beauval - Confirmed

I've heard from many sources that Beauval Zoo is excellent and possibly amongst the best in Europe, and yet it only averages 550,000 visitors per year. That will drastically change with the addition of giant pandas, and amazingly the zoo will eventually have pandas, manatees and koalas. How many zoos can equal that?
 
snowleopard said:
I've heard from many sources that Beauval Zoo is excellent and possibly amongst the best in Europe, and yet it only averages 550,000 visitors per year.
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It is indeed excellent. One of the best in Europe? Possibly - although how do you compare it with, say, Artis in Amsterdam? They're such different organisations. On a wholly subjective level, I would put it down as one of my favourites, but I'm not sure that that is the same as it being the best. 550,000 visitors? This is a big visitor number! The zoo really is in the middle of nowhere, and depends largely on tourist traffic - so, it is busy for short periods of time. From a business and commerical point-of-view, it appears to be a very well run organisation.

The new area is a little bit naff - it's a sort of Kung Fu Panda vision of China - but it is exciting, and well done. It is great to have it confirmed that pandas are indeed due to come.
 
So with Edinburgh joining the club as well, that will make five zoos in Europe with giant pandas?

Add that to the four in the US, three in Japan and one each in Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Mexico and soon to be Singapore, and that makes 17 zoos outside the People's Republic of China displaying giant pandas. How many more zoos can they send them to before they kill the golden goose?
 
Indeed, the arrival of giant pandas to Beauval zooparc is now almost done.:D:D The direction of the zoo formalized these last days the arrival of the “black and white bears” via their website and facebook page. And even if it has been several years that the rumors circulated about the arrival of this beautiful species, the creation of the new Chinese area last year and its main paddock vacuum left no doubt about the real thing. It's only a matter of time now.

What is surprising with this park is the ascent that he took in very little time. Created in 1980 by Francoise Delord, the ZooParc began his history just with a collection of birds. It was only in 1989 that were present the first monkeys and cats ... and finally in 1991 the first pair of white tigers in France. At that time, the zoo has really grown, and over the years has managed to position itself in the top three of “most visited zoos” in France:eek::eek:.

Today the zooparc has probably the finest animal collection in France with several rare species like koalas, okapis, Somalia wild ass, Malayan tapir, African elephant, gorillas, orang outan, Fidji iguana, manatees, golden bellied capuchin, Sumatran tiger, snow leopard, jaguar, Mishmi takin, several species of tamarins and marmoset, lion tailed macaque, Persian and clouded leopard, arapaima, Grevy zebra, giant anteater, Javan langur, greated one horned and white rhinoceros, Matschie and Goodfellow tree kangaroo, several species of birds whose gang-gang, salmon crested, Philippine and palm cockatoos, eclectus, hyacinth end red-fronted macaw, rhinoceros hornbill, lori, sarus crane, white napped crane, pelican, yellow-billed stork, boat-billed heron, ibis, Congo peafowl, Bali mynah and many others...

But for me, I don’t think that Beauval zooparc is one of the best in Europe. Maybe for the collection….but not for the installation. Zoos like Chester, Zurich, Vienna, Leipzig, Burger or Rotterdam are much higher than Beauval. Apart the two last extensions (Asian Plain and the China area) and the Manatees and Gorillas Complex, there are no really immersion installation (in fact it’s a weak point for most of the French zoos). Most of the enclosures are nice and interesting but not fantastic. Big cats have basic enclosure; African plain is nice but nothing more, like the “Okapi area” or the bird greenhouse. The very negative point is probably the Brown bear, the mountain lion enclosure and the monkey’s aviary. For the first two species, it’s surely the worst zoo enclosure (little space, no place to hide from the public and few enrichment). As for the monkey aviaries…they’ll be better for parrots or birds.

But as I said before, Beauval zooparc is a young zoo which already exceeds the other French zoos by his fantastic collection. The latest installations have shown a good evolution in the presentation of the species, with an effort of immersion. Now I think the zooparc should continue to grow (He still has a lot of land free) and evolve in this direction, but must also change, or restructure, some old areas… And, why not, separate of certain species in order to enlarge the enclosure of other;);).
 
Wonderful news:),

In anthony sheridens book, What zoo's can do: the leading zoological gardens of europe 2010-2020' anthony sheriden states that 3 zoo's in europe currently exhibit giant panda's with edinburgh being confirmed to exhibit them soon. He also states that 3 zoo's are currently in negotiation but they cannot be named in case it puts the plans in jeopardy. Now with Beauval being confirmed, what would the other zoo's be? Any idea's? I'm thinking it would possibly be a dutch, maybe a belgian zoo. Possibly Lisbon Zoo. And on the london master plan it states for the mappins to maybe be includeded as a Panda exhibit. Anyhow, does anyone know of any plans to include panda"s in a masterplan or rumours to exhibit Giant panda in european zoo's?

^sorry, I realise I didn't word that very well.
 
Emmen has been looking into the option of acquiring Pandas and has been quite open about it. There were gossips about Blijdorp as they always stated that when the lions will move their current enclosure might be renovated and changed into a bear inclosure. But the latest presentation of plans changed this (it will probably house monkeys in the future) and Blijdorp always stated that they are not willing to pay the rental costs for Pandas.
 
Here you can see photos of the extension "Sur les Hauteurs de Chine" with the futur "bear" enclosure. Now there are more climb structures indoor and outdoor.
 
Could you direct me too what part of the book?
And DDcorvus, could go provide me with any more info on emmen reciving panda?:)
Is there any more zoo's looking into adding panda to its collection, apart from london, I'd like the see burgers displaying them, I mean with the wonders of there previous exhibits them imagine what they would do with panda.

It looks like a nice complex but a bit, bland and showy. Hopefully some mature tree's will be planted + plants will grow, allowing for a more natural space:)
 
Could you direct me too what part of the book?
And DDcorvus, could go provide me with any more info on emmen reciving panda?:)
Is there any more zoo's looking into adding panda to its collection, apart from london, I'd like the see burgers displaying them, I mean with the wonders of there previous exhibits them imagine what they would do with panda.

It looks like a nice complex but a bit, bland and showy. Hopefully some mature tree's will be planted + plants will grow, allowing for a more natural space:)
 
There s not really more information except that the region Drenthe while being on a mission to China also discussed the option of pandas for Emmen. So nothing concrete, just that it is public knowledge that the wish exist.
 
Didn't Pairi Daiza in Belgium also flirt with the idea of getting giant pandas not too long ago? They certainly already have a huge Chinese garden in which the pandas would fit the theme perfectly.
 
The EURO crisis might uproot/block the transfer.
See more recent Sarkozy ITALIA discussions in economics section.
 
From Beauval's Facebook page. Agreements are to be signed next week

Translation:
Some time ago, we announced you the installation next to a pair of giant pandas Beauval.
Is stopped before the date of their arrival, (long-awaited!) comes the formalities.
The Direction of the ZooParc will travel Saturday 3 December to Beijing to sign the franco-chinois agreement of cooperation for the conservation of the panda!
A historic date for Beauval and the realization of a project out of the ordinary, led for many years.
We will keep you informed of course on our web site and this suite of the évènements… facebook page
 
CGSwans said:
So with Edinburgh joining the club as well, that will make five zoos in Europe with giant pandas?

Add that to the four in the US, three in Japan and one each in Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Mexico and soon to be Singapore, and that makes 17 zoos outside the People's Republic of China displaying giant pandas. How many more zoos can they send them to before they kill the golden goose?
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While I see your point, I don't think that giant panda exhibits will continue to expand as much as you are thinking. Keeping pandas is tremendously expensive. Zoos have to pay China a huge annual fee (was $1 million per year for US zoos the last I heard), plus they have to pay for fresh bamboo to feed them. On top of things, there are China-imposed restrictions on the exhibit design and quality, as well as other complications with keeping them and exhibiting them to the public.

In recent years, both the zoos in Atlanta and Memphis have considered ending their panda program. The birth of attendance-drawing panda cubs saved the program in Atlanta, while Memphis is still waiting for and hoping for the same luck.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more zoos add giant pandas, but they'll never become a "regular" animal at zoos. I think they will continue to be the "rock stars" of zoo animals, one of the few animals that people will go out of the way to see.
 
ANyhuis said:
While I see your point, I don't think that giant panda exhibits will continue to expand as much as you are thinking. Keeping pandas is tremendously expensive. Zoos have to pay China a huge annual fee (was $1 million per year for US zoos the last I heard), plus they have to pay for fresh bamboo to feed them. On top of things, there are China-imposed restrictions on the exhibit design and quality, as well as other complications with keeping them and exhibiting them to the public.

In recent years, both the zoos in Atlanta and Memphis have considered ending their panda program. The birth of attendance-drawing panda cubs saved the program in Atlanta, while Memphis is still waiting for and hoping for the same luck.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a few more zoos add giant pandas, but they'll never become a "regular" animal at zoos. I think they will continue to be the "rock stars" of zoo animals, one of the few animals that people will go out of the way to see.
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As you say it will cost an extreme amount of money but they will get a lot back in return (e.g. with the publicity) but the enclosure must have cost a few hundred thousand at least! I agree with you I do think a few more zoos in Europe will become holders to the Giant Panda breeding program. There is a doubt with breeding too, paying millions of pounds with no cubs at the end of it. (Unless they use A.I.!) With Beauval becoming the 5th Zoo in Europe to hold a pair of Giant pandas, it seems they are becoming ever more popular.

The problem being if they don't breed then A.I. will have to be the only option, with only Vienna naturally breeding from there's all cubs have been male in Europe. Have the pair coming to Beauval ever bred before?

Edinburgh's publicity since the arrival of the panda's has risen an awful lot, Beauval will benefit a lot from the arrival and I hope it all goes well with them.:)
 
Jordan-Jaguar97 said:
The problem being if they don't breed then A.I. will have to be the only option, with only Vienna naturally breeding from there's all cubs have been male in Europe. Have the pair coming to Beauval ever bred before?
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That would be interesting to know, as Edinburgh's are proven breeders, though not with each other.

The problem with the 'pair' system for Pandas sent out to foreign zoos is its not a natural mating system for them- in the wild males are attracted by the scent and vocalisation(bleating) of an in-heat female-usually several converge and hang around waiting for her to become fully receptive when(presumably) the strongest one (and maybe others too?) mates with her.

So of course the set-up of having only one male in each zoo exhibit mean the chances of successful mating are that much reduced.
 
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