1. Paris Vincennes Zoo - along with Hannover, Marwell and Whipsnade Zoos - was a major proponent of the reintroduction projects for Sahelo Saharan antelope in North Africa.
2. The latest reintroductions in Tunisia involved both scimitar-horned oryx and addax.
If new management will relinquish its addax and oryx herds, it will have done itself no favours. The entire collection is already in total disarray and in a sorry state as it is. No collection plan and yet giving quite a few species the chop. With no future masterplan and finances there is no shutting the door on yesteryear, nor can it look forward. A popular misconception in quite a few people is that the zoo is already closed.
Good zoos exist for recreation, education and conservation, by cutting out the very heart of its conservation message (okapi, Sahelo Saharan antelope) Paris Vincennes Zoo will become obsolete in the zoo community.
If Sarkozy is worth the salt of this earth he should make Vincennes a matter of pride for the nation!