Paris Zoological Park Zoo de Vincennes Paris News

Was just seeing some of the comments after seeing some of the photos and concerns that this 'new' zoo is underwhelming. I was able to go by the zoo in early May, not too long before it opened.

I too, had very high hopes - and while I was initially a little underwhelmed (full disclosure - I also visited Zurich, Rotterdam and Burgers on the same trip) - in hindsight, I think my expectations where unrealistic as the task/cost of opening an entirely new zoo all at once is/was enormous. I did find parts of zoo, particularly the 'first' part covering South America and Africa to have an almost cheap or rushed feel, and some species that weren't on exhibit yet - a lot of enclosures use black chain-link fence. A couple of the big cat exhibits, including the lion exhibit, feel a bit exposed.

But - it really got much better as I moved through, and the Guyana and Madagascar exhibits are really quite good. The Iberian wolves are an excellent inclusion, and the design of the giraffe/ostrich exhibit is quite interesting - with the animals able to wade into their watering hole at nearly your same level with no visible barriers - its one that I think will be stunning once the landscaping and foliage have grown in.

To that point - I think it's important to be patient here, it is far from a world class zoo right now in my opinion, but I think there is some potential. The zoo feels bare, because the foliage needs time to grow in. It's small, but I expect over time they will add additional exhibits and species. What's crazy is how the Menagerie in the Jardin du Plantes still has so many larger (and more rare) ungulates in a much, much smaller space!
 
On the Guardian website today:

Barry the manatee drowns at Paris zoo after getting stuck in pool shaft | World news | theguardian.com

A three-year-old manatee has drowned after getting stuck in a service shaft in its pool just a month after joining a zoo in Paris.

Barry the manatee, who weighed 300kg (660lbs), died last Tuesday but the zoo at Vincennes only acknowledged the mammal's death on Monday and said an investigation was under way. Barry and his 600kg companion Tinus were a star attraction at the zoo, which had been closed for five years for a major renovation.

The 80-year-old zoo reopened in April under its new name, the Paris Zoological Park, having previously been known as the Vincennes zoo.

Barry was born in captivity at the Danish zoo at Odense and had been in Vincennes since 4 July.

A spokeswoman told the Guardian that the mammal "forced its way into the shaft where it got stuck".

Authorities are trying to find out exactly what happened and whether the manatees' enclosure needs to be modified. On the day of the accident, the tropical pool was closed to the public while the shaft was shut and keepers made sure that Tinus was not at risk. The pool was specially built to contain up to three manatees.

The gentle, lumbering manatees are an endangered species, with only a few thousand left in the world. The herbivorous mammals remain submerged in shallow water or just under the surface and need to come up every five minutes to breathe.

The zoo's scientific director, Alexis Lécu, said the manatee pool design had been approved by a body that supervises the breeding programmes and exchanges of European zoos, and had been inspected on site in February before the zoo reopened.

A healthy adult manatee, which can measure about three metres (10ft) and weigh up to 600kg, can live to the age of 60. They spend most of their time eating or sleeping. Young manatees, also known as sea cows, can fall victim to shark or crocodile attacks in the wild, but the greatest threat to them is collisions with motorboats.
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If you had a weekend in Paris, is it worth visiting? Are you better off seeing the other sites in Paris and skipping the zoo?

Do they still keep Manatee?
 
taun said:
If you had a weekend in Paris, is it worth visiting? Are you better off seeing the other sites in Paris and skipping the zoo?

Do they still keep Manatee?
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It's worth it, I say, along with the Menagerie in the Jardin des Plantes... There's a really good ethnographic museum down the road as well, which used to have an aquarium with crocodiles in the basement (not sure if they still do)

There's only one manatee as far as I'm aware...
 
oflory said:
It's worth it, I say, along with the Menagerie in the Jardin des Plantes... There's a really good ethnographic museum down the road as well, which used to have an aquarium with crocodiles in the basement (not sure if they still do)

There's only one manatee as far as I'm aware...
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Thinking the Menagerie in Jardin de Plantes will definitely be something to do, just looking at the zoo there does not seem to be many unique or rarities for me to see (Otherthan manatee).

Is there any gems in the collection at the zoo? The website was not that helpful.

Thanks
 
If given the choice, i would choose the menagerie, with it's fascinating hoofstock collection, which includes such gems as gaur, Sichuan takin and Rocky mountain goat along with the only Houbara bustard in Europe.
 
If you visit the menagerie at the Jardin des Plantes, which is very interesting, do not miss the grand galerie de evolution next door, which has an amazing hall of extinct animals. You can see both the menagerie and the grand galerie in about 3 hours and then continue on sighting along the river. Notre Dame is across the bridge from the jardin des plantes. I have not been to the renovated zoo yet, so i cannot evaluate it.
 
kiang said:
If given the choice, i would choose the menagerie, with it's fascinating hoofstock collection, which includes such gems as gaur, Sichuan takin and Rocky mountain goat along with the only Houbara bustard in Europe.
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This makes my mind up, thought it just had a small collection of birds and reptiles.

It is also on my way in to Paris from where I am staying so bonus. I don't want to waste a full day as I have limited time.

Glad I asked the question otherwise I am have missed it.
 
carlos55 said:
If you visit the menagerie at the Jardin des Plantes, which is very interesting, do not miss the grand galerie de evolution next door, which has an amazing hall of extinct animals. You can see both the menagerie and the grand galerie in about 3 hours and then continue on sighting along the river. Notre Dame is across the bridge from the jardin des plantes. I have not been to the renovated zoo yet, so i cannot evaluate it.
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Thank you, certain will look into that too.
 
oflory said:
It's worth it, I say, along with the Menagerie in the Jardin des Plantes... There's a really good ethnographic museum down the road as well, which used to have an aquarium with crocodiles in the basement (not sure if they still do)

There's only one manatee as far as I'm aware...
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The museum aquarium is still there.....I visited in Dec after the zoo.....American Alligators in the basement...very odd set-up....but definitely worth a visit.....some really nice fish indeed......full set of lungfish for example.
 
The Vincennes zoo does have some interesting stuff.....from memory.....woolley monkey...sifaka......interesting European reptiles and amphibians inside the artificial mountain....Caiman lizard and other rare reptiles and amphibians in the Tropical House.....also a red-fan parrot in here.....large group of bush dog
 
Thanks Newzooboy, I think out of the two I want to explore the old zoo more, plus I can do that in a morning and still get to a few other places later in the day.
 
Both zoos are really worth seeing. The menagerie is obviously laden with history, and has some superb species. It is pretty small, though, and is obviously not the most modern of zoological gardens. It is within walking distance of some of Paris's most notable areas (it is right by the river).

The zoo is not exactly far from the city centre - I'm guessing the underground took about 15 minutes or so - and I would disagree with some fo the lukewarm comments that have been posted about it. It has some - maybe not many - standout species, but the unity fo design is very pleasing, and the flavour of the place as a whole is rather excellent. What I liked most of all is that, although it is all shiny and new, it is in many ways a pretty traditional zoo - I don't think there's anything too radical in its design. It's all done very nicely, though, and I would imagine it will look better and better as the years roll on - I visited last summer, when the planting was still looking a little sparse in places.

The obvious answer is to visit both - and the aquariums, and the natural history museum!
 
sooty mangabey said:
Both zoos are really worth seeing. The menagerie is obviously laden with history, and has some superb species. It is pretty small, though, and is obviously not the most modern of zoological gardens. It is within walking distance of some of Paris's most notable areas (it is right by the river).
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I choose to just view the menagerie and certainly not disappointed with my choice. I was staying 5m walk from the place so did it one morning on the way to the other sights in Paris, had just 2 and half days and well did the other usually spots (Effiel Tower, Louvre, etc....).

The history of the place was just great, the cat house amazing you just don't see much like that nowadays. The changes to the house were just about good enough for it continued use.

The monkey house was a delight too, with white crowned mangabeys and L'hoest monkeys.

Missed seeing the Quolls they just were a massive no show but I am sure I will see them at Bristol.

So worth the admission price....wish I had more time there. Thanks for everyones input.
 
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