Paris Zoological Park

The Zoological Park of Paris, formerly the Park Zoo of the Woods de Vincenne and commonly known as Vincennes zoo, is a French Zoological Park of the national Museum of natural history, located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, where it covers an area of 14.5 hectares in the East of the bois de Vincennes. Designed in 1934, in addition to the menagerie of the Jardin des plantes, this zoo is intended to observe animal behavior in a more suitable environment. It is managed since 2012 by Sophie Ferreira le Morvan.

Since its opening, it was remarkable for its large artificial rock of 65 meters high, emblematic decoration of the Park, visible from far and popularly known as "the big rock". The zoo was closed between November 30, 2008 and April 12, 2014 because it became outdated and too small for its residents according to the criteria of the 21st century. The renovation work started on the 7^th of December 2011 and used over almost two and a half years. The enclosures were fully reviewed and grouped into five major natural environments (or biozones). The work brought them to modern standards for the comfort of animals, the safety of the public, and the museology, with increased attention in respect to the environment.

It has approximately 1 000 mammals, birds and reptiles of 180 species and amphibians and invertebrates. It includes a greenhouse of 4,000 m2 with an equatorial environment.

Permanent member of the European Association of zoos and aquariums, engages in ex-situ conservation by participating in European programs for endangered species (EEP), which coordinates five. He is also member of the World Association of zoos and aquariums (WAZA).

With more than 900,000 visitors annually, it is one of the five busiest Zoological Parks in France.

History

The Bois de Vincennes Zoological Park (1932-2008)

Isidore Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, Director of the national Museum of natural history advocated in 1860 the usefulness of an annex of the Menagerie of plants garden to study the behavior of animals. The Jardin of acclimation could have been this place, but according to the terms of the concession, especially "useful" animals that are presented. However, A law of July 7, 1860 granted the Museum 16 hectares of the bois de Vincennes, a property of the Crown, which had been ceded to the city of Paris. The Museum makes it a plant and animal reserve (seeding and breeding) but the zoo project remained unheeded due to lack of money. An event precipitates things: the colonial exhibition of 1931 allows the opening of a "temporary zoo" in this field. Led by Henry Thétard, he introduced exotic animals to an enthusiastic crowd of more than five million people between May 10 and November 15, 1931. Once the exhibition was closed, it was decided to install a zoo on another site of the bois de Vincennes, at the current location.

The 'Bois de Vincennes Zoological Park' was designed by the geologist Paul Lemoine (Director of the national Museum of natural history from 1932 to 1936) in agreement with the city of Paris. He had conceived it in his mind long before his appointment as Director of the Museum in December 1931.

Inaugurated on the 2^nd of June 1934 by the president of the Republic, Albert Lebrun, the zoo was built by Charles Letrosne, architect of civil buildings and national palaces.

It was built according to the innovative architectural model of the zoo of Hamburg by Carl Hagenbeck, a revolutionary model of that time which aimed to present the animals without cages, on trays, in ditches and the RIPRAP so as not to separate them from the public bars. The inner lodges of many animals could also be visited by the public.

Very quickly, it knows a great success among the Parisians, who can admire a spectacular wildlife, in a setting that is more 'natural' than in the old menageries such as the garden of plants.

Its Facilities allowed them to host many animals, especially large mammals. The zoo has achieved great success in the breeding of Asian elephant, the giraffe of the Niger and the okapi, the three threatened with extinction in nature, as well as a multitude of felines, bears, antelope and deer. It also presentes rare species in captivity, such the kouprey (a specimen from 1936 to 1940, only to have been raised in Europe), the elephant seal (a specimen that lived for 30 years), the Indian rhinoceros and the giant panda (two males of this species available in 1972 by the Chinese Prime minister Zhou Enlai to President Georges Pompidou ", as part of the diplomatic relations between France and China, have lived there). One of the two, Li - Li died shortly after his arrival, the other, Yen - Yen, lived there from 1973 to 2000, which represents one of the longest lifetimes for this species in captivity.

However, it has never presented small size of animal species of, due to lack of facilities, and despite the construction of several aviaries and the opening of lemurs House in 1986, where groups of nocturnal lemurs are often rare, evolved in artificial obscurity. This installation never had an equivalent in France, and does not have much elsewhere in the world.

From the 1980s, the zoo facilities, such as enclosures and fake rocks made of concrete coated wire mesh, which were designed in the 1930s for a period of 50 years, were degraded by aging. Lack of maintenance, they crumbled and became dangerous. Then the Grand rock (Grand Rocher), the iconic symbol of the Park, which overlooks the bois de Vincennes, was closed for several years. It was originally designed to House Alpine animals, and oversized to accommodate two drinking water reservoirs, sheep boxes, stairs and the fastest elevator in Europe in 1934 with a speed of 3 meters per second. In 1993, the Government provided urgent funds for its renovation; While other facilities were closed to the public in the early 2000s, some animals (elephants, cats, rhinoceros, bear) being moved out of the zoo.

At the same time, The Vincennes zoo saw its attendance decline since the end of the 20th century to 300,000 visitors in 2005, compared with 600,000 in 2004, 800,000 in 2003, 1 000 000 in 1984 and 1 500 000 in 1968.

In the year 2004, the deterioration of the facilities was so visible, that elected officials are mobilizing. Laurent Lafon, Mayor of Vincennes and regional councilor of Ile-de-France, launches the " popular support movement for the Vincennes zoo," a petition that collected thousands of signatures to attract the attention of the Ministers on the need to renovate the zoo, threatened with closure for non-compliance. In September 2004, L. Lafon again raises the question of the future of the institution, in a column of daily newspaper Le Monde. In December 2004, the National Assembly, a member of the Val-de-Marne, Patrick Beaudouin, calls on this subject Francis Aubert, Delegate Minister for research.

Soon after, 500 000 EUR was urgently made available for basic work on gas and electricity networks and the rock of giraffes. In 2005, the Government allocated one million euros to the reception of the animals and the public and 1.2 million additional to the Aviary of the lemurs and the reception of new residents. This will finally launch the renovation of the zoo, which will lead to its closure in the month of November 2008 for 5 years and a half.

The overall cost of the work, which began in the first quarter of 2007, was estimated between 120 and 130 million euros, for a final cost of 167 million. This renovation plan has set the establishment at the level of a "world reference", according to Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, president of the Scientific Committee.

The Closing (2008-2014)

With the Missing public funds, a public-private partnership was set up to finance the construction. Private actors (mainly Bouygues Construction and the savings bank) provide 94% funding (or 157 million EUR), in Exchange for a rent of € 15 million per year to pay for 25 years, corresponding approximately to the increased revenue generated by the increase in entrance fee. This partnership amounts to donate part of the proceeds from the public zoo to the private actors, but does not affect the status and the missions of staff and associate researchers, nor the public service missions of the Park (research, species protection).

In addition, the selected architectural firm committed to linking sustainable development and respect for the animal condition, by presenting animals in their habitats. thus "the visitor will become the guest of the animal he will encounter in his restored universe." The principle of the new zoo is more to show as many animals, but to enhance their presentation in their biotope: European, Guyanese, Malagasy, African and Patagonian, according to the choice that was adopted, in line with the origins of most zoo residents.

The actual work took two and a half years, the animals were moved during this time inside the perimeter of the zoo (giraffes), or in other institutions of the Museum like the menagerie of the garden plants of Paris, the ecology Center of Los Angeles, the Park of Clères or the Zoological Reserve of the haute- touche Obterre or even in other partner’s zoos (Edinburgh Dublin, Moscow, Montpellier...).

The animals were reinstalled as the Aviary, greenhouse and the enclosure were completed.

The Renewal of the Zoological Park of Paris

The new 'Parisian Zoological Park' was opened to the public on the 12^th of April 2014. It was the only zoo in the world to have been completely rebuilt, apart from the Saint-Mandé entrance now closed, Grand Rocher, the Aviary of vultures and the islets of the primates of the Guyana-Madagascar area. The zoo celebrated its 80 years on the 2^nd of June 2014.

Five biozones

The new presentation of the animals was organized into five biozones (Patagonia: 7 species out of 16 570 m², Savannah-Sahel: 44 species out of 45 215 m², Europe: 28 species out of 10 800 m², Guyana: 67 species out of 12 530 m², Madagascar: 30 species out of 9 655 m²). Other biozones, conducted under single ownership of the Museum, Equatorial Africa and possibly Australia, should be developed, excluding Asia, with Oceania, already presented in a complementary fashion to the Menagerie of the plants garden, with animals such as the red panda or the snow leopard. The zoo also features a tropical greenhouse of 4,000 m² and 16 m high and about 20 aviaries, including the large aviary of 2,000 m² that evokes an African delta river. There are 1,000 animals of 180 species, including 74 birds, 42 mammals, 21 reptiles, 17 amphibians, 15 fish and 11 insects and Arachnids. It is expected that the drones fly in the Park and the enclosure, allowing to visualize the point of view of the animal, and some animals are fitted with collars-camera for scientific purposes.

Reproduction, conservation and care

The Zoological Park of Paris was involved in 44 European breeding programs representing a quarter of the Park's species and 19 genealogical records (studbooks) extra, in particular for the lemurs, for which it provides the breeding program of five species seriously threatened and it was a world reference since the 1990s. Indeed, the museum conducts activities in the ten reserves of Madagascar, especially the forest reserve of Antrema and the protected area of Sakalava community. It also participates in the program of re-introduction of the Manatee in Guadeloupe, in the Bay of Grand Anse by providing scientific support with local scientists, or to the preservation of the genetic heritage of the Patagonia puma.

The Veterinary Clinic was a good hospital structure to care for each of the animals in the zoo and adapt to their specific characteristics, including size. An area of 250 m², it contains an area of care (surgery, Imaging), an area of hospitalization and an area of analysis. The Park includes five kitchens, the main being mainly occupied by specific storage areas including eight cold rooms for meat, fish, plant and a cold room with a pool containing bamboo for the lemurs.

Facilities

The new buildings were built by Bernard Tschumi Agency and the landscaping by Jacqueline Osty. In total, after conservation of 797 trees, half, 171 000 870 plants species, including 3 800 in the greenhouse and 2 258 trees were planted, representing an increase of 40% in the vegetated area, which will reach its full maturity in a few years. The continuous flow of 4.2 km is punctuated by cartels and explanatory signs and meeting points driven by mediators, for about 15 min during feeding sessions, including large carnivores. The kiosks of exploration, light structures, vegetated and semi-open, located at the exit of each biozone offer additional content on the daily life of the zoo and its research and conservation actions using wall-mounted video screens, touch tables and information materials and are complemented by 4 teaching classrooms equipped with interactive whiteboards, allowing host school or community groups for educational activities which educate the public about respect for the environment, the biology of the species and the protection of biodiversity. The journey ends at the point of departure by a bookstore-shop. There are also instructions, a service of loan of wheelchairs and strollers, as well as a room of 100 places for seminars and conferences. The park features two restaurants, one located in the entrance building, the other in the building with the terrace overlooking the plain Sahel-Sudan and the Grand Rocher. Four kiosks of fast food and walking restoration points on the course, as well as picnic areas.

Rates and attendance

To repay the works (167 million euros including the Museum 10 of the State and 127 of a private company it takes to repay instalment on 25 years), prices have almost quadrupled compared to the old zoo. In 2014, to reopen, the entry ticket full price goes from 6 to 22 euros, which corresponds to the average high of European zoos (€31 to the London zoo, €26 at the ZooParc de Beauval), and the annual pass costs €40 for 3-11 years, €55 for 12-25 years and €65 for adults. In 2015 and 2016, this rate has not changed.

The weekend of reopening of the zoo was on the 12^th of April 2014, strong success of curiosity with a crowd of 25,000 visitors. while 150,000 tickets had been pre-sold online. Some visitors were then disappointed to find some empty enclosure (about 180 species, the white rhinoceros, the pumas, the guanacos and reptiles were not yet present, and other animals, present but not yet familiar with their new territory, were hidden, like the sea lions with Manes). Thomas Grenon, the Director of the Museum, said that some iconic large animals such as the elephant, bear, Tigers and large primates are not yet presented, because they cannot ensure a space that corresponds to their respective needs. It is the same policy that already applied to the Menagerie of the garden of plants. The Director of the zoo, Sophie Ferreira the Morvan, says that the Park, which has more than 90% of the species at the opening, should be complete by the end of 2014. The new Park plan is expected to evolve to attract about two million visitors in total during the first year, then 1.4 million in the year of cruise from 800,000 to a million a few years before its closure. To meet this challenge, the Park public spread widely the notions of animal welfare and biome, that led to its renovation, notions also implemented in some zoos of the world and of France which favor the vast enclosure, like the Zoological Reserve of the Haute-Touche created in 1958 by the museum on 500 hectares. It also opens at night one day a week in June and July. The Park welcomed its millionth visitors in five months, its 1.5 millionth in eight months and 1 541 218 visitors in 2014. But the attendance turns out to be much lower than expected. In 2015, the Park has only 900 000 visitors while 1.7 million were needed to ensure the financial balance according to the budget.

Accused by the Court of Auditors

In its annual report for 2017, the Court of Auditors is interested in the national Museum of natural history and reported an "alarming financial situation", notably because of "reckless policy choices". The Financial renovation package of the Zoological Park of Paris was cited as one of the causes of this situation. The cost of repaying the 127 million euros raised by a private company for the Museum to 20 million EUR per year, so that operating revenue are evaluated (based on the attendance 2015) to only 12.6 million annual, a structural deficit of 7.4 million euros per year.

The Cambon sage’s street indicated that the main reason for this deficit was due to the very low attendance in the light of forecasts used in the preparation of the public-private partnership (912 000 visitors instead of 1.7 million in 2015). It was stated that overestimated attendance assumptions had been retained because of "the will to present a level of income sufficient to balance the financial package".

In addition, the park attendance suffered from a bad word-of-mouth(bouche-à-oreille) at the opening. It was in fact too early due to the delays of the construction site, hence a disappointment among the visitors, as all animals having not arrived and visibility issues of animals in the enclosure not having been anticipated despite the doubts expressed by employees. Although these problems have been resolved since then, this initial bad reputation has constituted a " handicap that is difficult to overcome later ".

According to the Court, visitors also feel that the entrance fee is too high given the proposed offer. Indeed, in order to focus on animal welfare, the Park made the choice to waive certain emblematic animal species requiring large spaces (elephants, Tigers,...).

Finally, the Court of Auditors cites the 2015attacks  as another possible cause of low attendance that year, particularly that of school groups.

Conservation

As a member of the European Association of zoos and aquariums (EAZA), the zoo is a coordinator of five European programs for endangered species (EEP) ː large hapalemur (in critically endangered), Belt variant (critical extinction danger), wounded crowned (endangered), Guinea (threatened) and Europe-Otter (threatened).

He was also a member of the World Association of zoos and aquariums (WAZA).

Conservation

As a member of the European Association of zoos and aquariums (EAZA), the zoo is the coordinator of five European programs for endangered species (EEP) ː large hapalemur (in critically endangered), belt variant (in critical danger of extinction), wounded crowned (endangered), Guinea (threatened) and Europe (threatened) Otter Baboon.

He was also a member of the World Association of zoos and aquariums (WAZA).

Source: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parc_zoologique_de_Paris