ZOO OF THE GARDEN OF PLANTS

In the tree-lined alleys at the heart of the Jardin des Plantes to get to know the 600 occupants of the premises. Red pandas, snow leopards, Arabian oryx, orangutans, pythons, Seychelles tortoises, pink flamingos, tree kangaroos, rhinoceros hornbills... The 150 or so species present at the Menagerie make up a diverse collection, representative of the world of terrestrial vertebrates. These rare species are presented in an exceptional architectural setting. La Ménagerie, founded in 1794, is one of the oldest zoos in the world. It is part of the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle. The Jardin des Plantes is divided into seven areas, including the Grande Galerie de l'Évolution, the Galerie de Paléontologie et d'Anatomie Comparée, the Galerie de Minéralogie et de Géologie, the Galerie des Enfants, the large greenhouses and the gemstone exhibition.
The animals are housed in "fabriques", small huts made of logs, cob and thatch roofs, inspired in 1802 by the architect Molinos, who built Marie-Antoinette's farm at Versailles. Others can be seen in the world's only large aviary, built in 1888, or in the Vivarium (1926), the Singerie (1936) and the Fauverie, three Art Deco-style buildings.
The Menagerie is involved in several breeding programmes for endangered species. Successful reintroductions to the wild include the little bustard (France), the Arabian oryx, extinct in the wild (Arabian Peninsula), and the golden lion tamarin (Brazil), three species present at the Menagerie. Thousands of schoolchildren take part in workshops and guided tours.
The Menagerie's collection is a living record of animal diversity. The astonishment and tenderness that encounters with animals sometimes arouse, provide an opportunity to reconnect city dwellers with nature, and to raise public and school awareness of the need to safeguard biodiversity.
Guided tours and meetings with the animal keepers help visitors to better understand the behaviours of both rare and more common animals. As you stroll along the paths, a trail highlights ordinary biodiversity: lizards, bees, foxes, insects, nesting birds... Twelve stations punctuate a fun and informative trail. You'll learn not only what threatens these animals, but also what you can do to try and ensure they have a livable environment.