Zoo Parc Le Mans

[ajmcspursfan]

I have attempted a couple of these in the past but I really want to have a proper go with showing you all around my current zoo.

Zoo Parc Le Mans is a zoological park situated in north west France. Opened to the public in the late 1970's, the Zoo hasnt always found life financially easy but with recent ivestment, the zoo is extending and updating exisiting enclosures.



On a side note, around the zoo the signs sometimes are in english (i couldnt aways be bothered to translate them ha!)

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Walking into the Zoo, you are met with the first enclosure, an island home for a breeding group of Ring Tailed Lemurs.



Over the years the island has held various species of lemur and small monkeys.

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Following on from the Lemur Island, is the lower part of the pond. This area holds the greater flamingoes and is overlooked by the bamboo cafe.

 

[ajmcspursfan]

We have been following the path around to the left of the Lemur Island, however if you head right you come to another primate island, this one for Siamang Gibbons. The island is kept natural but the climbing structures can be see from the viewing points.A raised walkway makes its way around the outside of the island that brings you to the indoor viewing windows.

 

[ajmcspursfan]

The Bamboo Cafe deck looks over the flamingoes however the decking at the front of the cafe overlooks the zoo's chimp enclosure.The enclosure is flanked by glass windows with the moat along the front of the enclosure.

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Just a step from the Bamboo Cafe and Chimp enclosure is 'Penguin Beach', home to the zoos African Penguins. Originally built for Humboldt Penguins, the African Penguins are a zoo favourite.


By the way, if anyone has any comments of questions, ill be happy to answer

 

[ajmcspursfan]

If you carry on along the raised pathway past the Siamang house you come to 'Amazonia', a large greenhouse (opened in the 90's) home to Capuchins and Caimans. It is hoped that maybe Sloths or another species of primate can add to the species kept in this building.


The Capuchins have accsess to both an indoor area and outside area.

 

[Captain Callum]

Fantastic zoo so far, the greenhouse looks great

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Fantastic zoo so far, the greenhouse looks great

Thank you! Hopefully the tour makes some sort of sense, its not the easiest zoo to plan a route around haha

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Along from the Penguins and the Chimps is a row of three enclosures for small/medium size cats. Some of the oldest enclosures in the park, they house a pair of Clouded Leopards, a male Eurasian Lynx and a female Cougar.

 

[ajmcspursfan]

A raised boardwalk runs behind the row of cat enclsoures. This path takes you past the Crane and Pampas enclosures. The Crane enclosure houses Red Crowned Crane whilst the Pampas enclosure mixes Baird's Tapir, Capybara and Giant Anteater.

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Near the Amazonia greenhouse are three similar enclosures to the small/medium cat cages. To bigger ones line the perimiter of the zoo for a female Black Jaguar and male Amur Leopard. There is also a smaller enclosure for a family of Binturongs.

 

[ajmcspursfan]

As you have seen with the Chimps and Siamangs, the apes are kept in similar island homes. Next to the Chimps and the Bamboo cafe is the Orang Utan house. The Orangs can get great views from atop the climbing platforms.

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Not far from the center of the zoo is the Giraffe house. While the paddock and house are not the biggest, the Giraffe's breed well. It is in future zoo plans that they will move into the african extension at the far end of the zoo.

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Sorry for the pause in the zoo tour, I havent been very well over the past week but all is good now.

Behind the Chimp house is the zoo's dedicated center for reptiles and amphibians, 'Reptile Tropics'.



There is also a viewing gallery that looks out onto the Aldabra Giant Tortoise enclosure. These Tortoises have accsess to the outside area all year round.

 

[NZFanatic]

I really like this! Great job!

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Thank you so much!

 

[ajmcspursfan]

Behind the Giraffe and Binturong enclosures are a couple of small enclosures for smaller animals. A breeding group of Black & White Ruffed Lemurs live in an enclosure that has held various primate species over the years and a family of Asian Small Clawed Otters live in one of the older enclosures in the zoo.



(For reference I used the old otter enclosure at London Zoo as inspiration)

 

[Captain Callum]

Behind the Giraffe and Binturong enclosures are a couple of small enclosures for smaller animals. A breeding group of Black & White Ruffed Lemurs live in an enclosure that has held various primate species over the years and a family of Asian Small Clawed Otters live in one of the older enclosures in the zoo.

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(For reference I used the old otter enclosure at London Zoo as inspiration)

That's some nice realistic looking habitats, always nice to see both worlds of creative and real life style habitats

 

[NZFanatic]

Do you think you'll share the zoo on the Workshop when it's complete? I'd love to explore it myself and see how you built certain things.