Paris Zoo

     ParisZoo           

Along with the Parc Floral and the Vincennes Castle, the area aroundthe Bois de Vincennes also boasts a zoo, the Parc Zoologique de Paris .

This is the largest public zoo in France, and it is also the national zoo. There are1200 animals to be seen, including the giraffes shown here. At one time,there was even a giant panda, donated by China, but it died of cancer not long ago at thevery ripe old age (for a panda) of 28. Unfortunately, the zoo is and has always been dramaticallyunderfunded, and this is quite obvious in the state of repair of the grounds (made worseby the windstorm that occurred late in 1999). The staff does the bestit can with the funds available, I’m sure. Keep in mind that I’ve been to the San Diego Zoo,so I’m probably a bit spoiled in my expectations.

The giraffe enclosure here is typical of many of the enclosures for the larger animals. In warmweather they move about outside; in winter, heated enclosures inside buildings protect them from thecold (although I suppose the polar bears don’t care).

Photographed on June 20, 2000.