The BioParc at Doué-La-Fontaine is an example to follow. This zoo offers its wildlife a real living space. It’s not the biggest or the most sensational, even if it does have the largest aviary in Europe. But because of its mission to save and reintroduce animals, and especially in view of the considerable effort that goes into taking the best possible care of all the living species it shelters, it’s always a pleasure for me to pay the full price to take part in their work <3
However, my very first experience in a zoo was catastrophic. When I was a kid, I was taken to the only zoo on Reunion Island, where I spent my childhood. And it was a disaster. Animals in mini-cages, dust, a gloomy atmosphere… some would say that was a long time ago, and it’s true, but I suspect that not all zoos offer as much respite and well-being as Doué La Fontaine.
So every time we go there, it’s a real pleasure! The first time I went, I had those childlike eyes captivated by the beauty of the giraffes! And today I’ve fallen in love with the gazelles…
But once we get out of there, I’m left with these questions with no real answer. What’s next? I mean us as humans. Why have we come to this situation where we have to save species? What right do we have to deprive animals of their natural habitat? Why do we have to exploit them? … I know some of the answers, I’ve got some things to think about, but in reality none of it appeals to me, and I’m leaving the Zoo with a heavy heart, telling myself that at least I’ve done my bit to help the lucky ones who avoided the worst, but is that really all I can do?
