Paris Zoological Park 53 copyright French Moments
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Last Updated: 13 July 2022

The Paris Zoological Park is situated in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. It offers its visitors a journey around the globe where animals cohabit in five major natural environments. Although not France’s largest zoo, the Paris Zoological Park certainly provides an instant change of scenery from the French capital and wishes to raise awareness of the protection of nature.

 

What is Paris Zoological Park?

The Paris Zoo or Paris Zoological Park covers an area of 14.5 hectares in the woodland of Bois de Vincennes. There is a total of 4.5 km of walkways where visitors can observe more than 1,000 animals cohabiting in this corner of eastern Paris, from lions to giraffes, flamingoes and tropical fish.

The zoo includes 190 species: 42 mammals, 21 reptiles, 15 fish and 74 birds.

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments

 

The origins of the Paris Zoo

The Paris zoo initially opened in 1934 and was back then a state-of-the-art facility which drew large crowds of Parisians. The zoo featured elephants, bears, and tigers separated from the public by ha-has, ditches and fences.

After years of underinvestment, the site was by the 1990s far from complying with the modern criteria of a 21st century zoo. The animals’ habitats were too small and public safety was at risk.

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
In the park © French Moments

 

A massive restauration in the 2000s

Consequently, the zoo closed between 2008 and 2014 to undergo a €167 million revamp thanks to a public-private partnership with French industrial group Bouygues. 80 years after its first inauguration, the Paris Zoo reopened to the public in 2014.

In fact the zoo was completely rebuilt on a new concept which was far from having animals exhibited like in some amusement park.

Paris Zoo © French Moments
The new park! © French Moments

 

5 Natural Environments for 190 species

Today the zoo is organised into five major natural environments (called biozones). Everything was designed as to recreate the most natural habitat possible for the 190 species.

Along the pathways, a series of instructive panels indicate which species are endangered and why. Some of them can be found throughout the park inside exploration pavilions with video screens and interactive displays.

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
Paris Zoo © French Moments

 

Facilities

There are a number of facilities made available to the visitors: restaurants, picnic areas, water fountains, restrooms and a bookshop.

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
A stall in the park © French Moments

In addition the park includes a 25 m high glasshouse of 4,000 m2 which contains a tropical rainforest and two biozones (Madagascar and Guyana).

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
Inside the glasshouse © French Moments

The National Museum of National History (MNHN) operated the Paris Zoo which complements the little zoo of the Ménagerie in the Jardin des Plantes. Furthermore, the MNHN aims to make much of the zoo’s activities in conservation and research. Today, visitors can contribute to the preservation of species by sponsoring an animal.

Get your online tickets to the Paris Zoo!

To see the detailed Map of the Paris Zoo, click on the image below:

Map of the Paris Zoo
Map of the Paris Zoo

 

The Biozones of the Paris Zoo

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments

The Paris Zoo is organised into five major natural environments (called biozones) showing biodiversity: Madagascar, Patagonia, Guyana, Europe and Sahel-Sudan.

 

Madagascar

A tropical forest (9,655 m2) with lemurs, tortoises and free-flying birds. The area shares the great glasshouse with Guyana. Total of 30 species.

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
The Madagascar area © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
The Madagascar area © French Moments

 

Patagonia

Pampa, rocky shores and Andean forest (16,570 m2) with sea lions, penguins, guanacos, cougars, pudús and greater rheas. Total of 7 species.

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
The aquatic world (Patagonia area) © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
In the Patagonia area © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
In the Patagonia area © French Moments

 

Sahel-Sudan

A savannah and a delta (42,215 m2) with zebras, rhinoceros, lions, ostriches, oryx, kudus, and baboons. It includes giraffes and their house as well as a large aviary. Total of 44 species.

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
The Sahel-Sudan area © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
In the Sahel-Sudan area © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
The Zebras! © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
The Zebras! © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
The Rhinos! © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
The giraffes © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
The baboons © French Moments

 

Europe

A conifer forest, swamp, garrigue, and alpine mountain (10,800 m2) with vultures, wolves, wolverines, lynx, otters. The area includes a vivarium. Total of 28 species.

The frogs! © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
Vulture © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
Turtle © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
Baby bear © French Moments

 

Guyana

An equatorial forest (12,530 m2) with woolly monkeys, jaguars, caimans, manatees and lowland tapirs. The area shares the great glasshouse with Madagascar. Total of 67 species.

Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
Colourful frog! © French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments
Chameleon © French Moments

 

Le Grand Rocher

Paris Zoological Park 40 copyright French Moments
Paris Zoological Park © French Moments

The Paris Zoo features an iconic landmark called ‘le Grand Rocher’. Built between 1932 and 1934, the big rock is 65 metres tall and dominates the zoo and the wood of Vincennes. With the recent renovation, the mock rock adds value to the scenery of the park, either recalling an African mount or an alpine peak. The replicated plains of Sahel-Sudan where the giraffes live are set against the ‘Grand Rocher’, providing a picture-postcard backdrop.

Paris Zoo © French Moments
The great rock (le grand rocher) © French Moments
Paris Zoo © French Moments
The great rock (le grand rocher) © French Moments
Paris Zoo © French Moments
The giraffes dominated by the great rock (le grand rocher) © French Moments

The ‘Grand Rocher’ is visible from various parts of Paris: the Eiffel Tower, Notre-Dame, Sacré-Cœur and Arc de Triomphe.

Get your online tickets to the Paris Zoo!

 

OPENING HOURS

  • The Paris Zoological Park is open all year.
  • From mid-October to mid-March: 10 am-5 pm
  • From mid-March to mid-October: 9.30 am-6 pm on weekdays, 9.30am-7.30pm on weekends, French school holidays and French public holidays.
Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

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