When our kids were little, the local zoo was a favorite outing. Until it wasn’t. One day we left after tears erupted with the four year old shouting “It’s not fair Mama! The animals are all locked up with nowhere to run and play. How would we feel if they locked us up so animals can stare and point?!”

Indeed, child, indeed. We have not stepped into a zoo since.

When we heard about the conservation efforts of an award winning and unique Bioparc around the corner from us in Anjou, France, we decided it was worth a look.

The Biopark Zoo in Doué-la-Fontaine is truly spectacular. The original vision was brought to life by Louis Gay in the 1960s when an abandoned limestone quarry was discovered. His imagination erupted among the brambles, old trees, cathedral ceilinged caves, and overgrown bamboo. He created the only troglodyte zoo in the world while mixing nature, preservation, and conservation.

The large quarry holes in the ground and the tunnels connecting them provide a French life for over 2,000 species of animals. The gigantic habitats are cleverly and thoughtfully designed to mimic original environments. There are massive areas for the large mammals to roam, high ceilings for vultures, macaws, and other birds to fly, and visitor viewpoints to watch and learn about the endangered residents.

I think even the four-year-old protesting treatment of zoo animals would’ve been okay with this Bioparc. ❤️‍🩹❤️

https://www.bioparc-zoo.fr/notre-parc/nos-valeurs/