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ZOO D'AMNÉVILLE
FRANCE, LORRAINE
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AMAZONIAN ADDITIONS TO AMNÉVILLE ZOO
The recipe for a successful zoo can be attributed to a few simple ingredients: a choice of animals that marries originality with the inevitable; a park that is both beautiful to look at and comfortable for the animals; and finally, an efficient marketing and advertising scheme. But nothing proves more difficult than being able to do things simply. The Amnéville Zoo, however, has acquitted itself well of this task. With 500,000 visitors in 2001, it's worked its way to the second ranking zoo in France (after Royan) in terms of the number of visitors.
The opening of the 2002 season doesn't loosen any of the rules that have made the zoo a success. The latest attraction is no less than a new hectare added to the already existing 12 hectares that once again reinforces the principles stated above. This new parcel of land has been baptised "Amazon Jungle" and welcomes about twenty new species. In addition to the usual elephants, giraffes, and zebras, you can now expect to find jaguars, tapirs, capybaras, egrets, spoonbills, toucans, and ibis. If you're wondering why so many of these new arrivals are birds, it's because the jungle begins with an aviary. And what an aviary! The visitor enters a simulation of the Amazon Jungle complete with mist machine, luxurious and colourful foliage and psychedelic birds: a veritable feast for the senses.
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AS CLOSE TO THE JUNGLE AS YOU CAN GET
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As you exit this bird's paradise, you enter an enclosure where you can see two jaguars frolicking peaceably. Their grace and beauty would give an angora cat a run for its money. The landscape architects have once again done a marvellous job of recreating the original environment of these felines. A large glass wall separates you from these gentle tomcats, giving you a breathtaking sensation of proximity to these beasts. Not far from the jaguars, you come across pink flamingos from Chile puttering in the clear waters hurtling down from an Inca pyramid. We're it not for the lack of a funky hairdo; you'd think you were Tintin in The Temple of the Sun. The directors of the park Michel Louis and Jean-Marc Vichard seem to have understood that the future of zoos lies in the combination of an environment suited for the well being of the animals and one whose décor is worthy of the most beautiful theme parks. The fact that the zoo is part of EAZA (see article on this association) and that there are many births that take place on the premises should convince you that they are well suited for animal habitation.
We almost forgot to tell you that in the new area of the park you'll also find exotic wolves, monkeys as well as emerald green iguanas...but its probably better to leave you with some surprises.
Discover ZOO D'AMNEVILLE
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05/17/2002 |
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