Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes
Open every day of the year
Looking for a change of scenery? Welcome to the Ménagerie, where some 500 animals are the focus of attention. A research centre and conservatory for endangered species, the Jardin des Plantes zoo is a haven of greenery in the heart of Paris.
The reptile building is closed for renovation. Reopening in 2024.
A rare choice
150 species can be seen here, nearly 40% of which are threatened. And one of the oldest zoos in the world has assumed its pioneering role by favouring small and medium-sized species adapted to the space of the enclosures. Along the aisles, you will find yourself in other latitudes, leafing through the living book of animal diversity. Look at these red pandas. They only come down to the ground to change tree! Take a good look at the snow leopards: grey mottled fur to camouflage them in the snowy rocks, hairy pads to protect them from the cold, a long tail to keep their balance and small ears to limit the loss of body heat: they are real mountain dwellers.
Caregiving
Oryx d'Arabie
© MNHN - F.-G. GrandinThe orangutans have their star, Nénette, who turned 50 in 2019. Don't miss the Seychelles turtles, Malayan tapir, dendrobate or kea, bustards or white-necked cranes...
Most of the residents were born in captivity or come from exchanges with other zoos. The Ménagerie participates in numerous breeding programmes for endangered species. The principle is to maintain viable populations of wild animals in captivity, which could be reintroduced into the wild if their environment is stabilised or restored. Successful reintroductions include the Little Bustard in France, the Arabian Oryx - extinct in the wild - in the Arabian Peninsula, and the Golden Lion Tamarin in Brazil.
Entertainment for everyone
What better place to learn about the environment? Workshops, meetings with the keepers and guided tours help you better understand the behaviour of the animals. The Ménagerie has put together a tour about basic biodiversity. In 12 stages, you will learn more about lizards, bees, foxes, nesting birds, etc., the threats they face and what you can do to ensure they have a viable environment.
Baby boom
Every year in spring, the Ménagerie's birth register is ablaze. Felines, primates, birds, reptiles and amphibians are born here. Species threatened with extinction in the wild find hope of survival in captivity, and visitors are treated to the magic of observing their young...
Jeune pademelon à queue courte né en 2021 - Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes
© MNHN - J. Munier
Jeune bharal né en été 2020 - Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes
© MNHN - E. Baril
Java, bébé femelle orang-outan - Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes
© MNHN - E. Baril
Binturong - Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes
© MNHN - F.-G. Grandin
Jeune dik-dik de Kirk né en août 2020 - Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes
© MNHN - E. Baril
Java, bébé femelle orang-outan - Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes
© MNHN - E. BarilThe current situation
Opened in 1794, the Ménagerie is one of the oldest zoos in the world! It has seen celebrities such as Zarafa, the giraffe! All the buildings have been listed since 1993. The small factories of 1802 were joined at the beginning of the 19th century by buildings whose diversity of styles is one of the assets of the place: the Bear Pits (1805), the Rotunda (1802-1812), whose shape evokes the cross of the Legion of Honour, the Reptile Gallery (1870) and the Great Aviary (1888). The art deco style characterises the buildings of the inter-war period: the Vivarium (1926), the Singerie (1936) and the Fauverie (1937). In 2013, the Desert Aviary was added to this precious heritage. So, are you ready to get up close and personal with wildlife?
Nouvelle Faisanderie - Ménagerie, zoo du Jardin des Plantes
© MNHN - E. BarilSave the animals: a web App from the age of 4!
Designed for 4 to 6-year-olds and 7 to 12-year-olds, the Ménagerie’s web app (web application) lets them to discover 15 species and learn while having fun. From the red panda to the Malayan tapir, the Gabon viper and the Przewalski’s horses, try to find the animals, answer the quiz questions and take up the challenges. You are in for nearly 1:30 hours of games at the Ménagerie, the zoo of the Jardin des Plantes!
GO to the web app Save the animals*
*only from a smartphone
No downloading required, access is free.
Contents available in French and English.
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