Pierre Gay, Director of the Doué-la-Fontaine Bioparc, decides to take his three grandchildren to Peru to raise their ecological awareness. To see this Thursday, January 26 at 23.45 on France 3 Pays de la Loire.
The Festival of Lights 2022 in Lyon
Ulysse (16), Gabriel (13), Héloïse (10) have known since they were old enough to understand that they don’t have a grandfather like the others. An extraordinary grandpa who devoted his life to sharing his passion for wildlife and promoting harmony between people and animals. His main tool? the Biopark of Doué La Fontaine created by his father when he was 9 years old in 1961 and who entrusted him with his management in 1972. Today Pierre Gay is in semi-retirement, he hands over his hand little by little to his son Stéphane but continues its fight, an essential act: to awaken the ecological conscience of the men, to protect threatened ecosystems by reintroducing animals in the process of extinction.
In total, 40 species benefit from ex-situ breeding programs to ensure their long-term survival in captivity. It is not surprising that Pierre had the idea of offering his grandchildren a trip to unknown territory, even though they are so familiar with the 1700 animals belonging to more than 130 different species in the biopark. It is this trip to South America that the documentary directed by François Derive “La nature en patrimoine” invites us to experience this Thursday, January 26 at 11:45 p.m.
Since 2001 Pierre Gay, director of the Bioparc, has wanted to raise our ecological awareness and make zoos something other than caged cattle fairs to satisfy customers’ taste for exoticism. Before him, others like Claude Caillé, founder of the zoo of Palmyre in Charente-Maritime had understood the essential role of zoos for the protection, the reproduction of endangered species and their reintroduction in their natural environment endangered by consumerist madness. men.
It is in the first person that the director of the bioparc tells us the story of his family trip. He who spends half of his time around the world in contact with associations and populations fighting to maintain biodiversity has chosen Peru where he goes every year. A unique opportunity to take stock of the battles won for animals reintroduced into their natural environment and to introduce his grandchildren to these protected areas and these men who have become his friends.
video length: 02min 31
the sea lion refuge on the Illescas archipelago
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©Human Nature production
The journey begins with a road trip in the desert of Drought in the northwest of Peru. Four hours drive to reach the Pacific coast and the Illetras reserve. A haven of peace for marine species such as penguins, Peruvian pelicans, Andean condors, penguins and above all thousands of sea lions.
A bivouac stop allows the Gay family to get to know Maros. This former fisherman lives in a giant acacia carved by the wind on the edge of the Pacific. After 50 years of labor at sea, he watches with a few guards to protect this territory. It took years for his men, with the support of stone, to drive out the illegal fishermen who plundered the resources of the archipelago and obtain reserve status for Illescas.
video length: 02min 13
the bears in the refuge of Chapari
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©Human Nature production
Today, his camp has become the starting point towards Chaparrithe sacred mountain of spectacled bear. This animal owes its name in particular to the lighter spots it has around its eyes. After years of deforestation and mining, the inhabitants the “comuneros”, 500 peasant families have declared themselves an “ecological community” transforming its hunting grounds into a reserve where spectacled bears are reintroduced. Weeks, days later, the door of the enclosures will open leaving the choice or not of freedom to his animals.
The income from the reserve, handicrafts mainly for tourists, allows them to improve their living conditions and mainly finance schools and health services in the hamlets of the forest. The creation of this reserve also made it possible to create jobs and to produce a solidarity and sustainable ecological agriculture exploiting the recycling of water, renewable energies.
These communities determined to master their culture and manage their lives give me reason to hope for my children and my grandchildren.
Pierre GayDirector of the Bioparc
Landscapes and fauna create a nice complicity between the actors of the film: the reactions of the children who punctuate the film are often filled with wonder, those of Pierre with knowledge. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a naturalist grandfather and to be able to admire rare places that will take your breath away!
video length: 01min 34
a herd of llamas in a magical landscape of Peru
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©Human Nature production
The film ends with a session of shamanism, a tradition still very present in pre-Columbian communities like those who inhabit the land of the magic mountain. Wizards’ markets always sell medicinal plants, charms that are used to organize ceremonies. Unique moments reserved for rare friendly visitors that can be interpreted as age-old mediations between humans and the spirits of nature. It is perhaps also what makes these communities stronger who fight against adversity and gives Pierre Gay the support he needs for his just fights!
As for Ulysse (16 years old), Gabriel (13 years old), Héloïse (10 years old), this incredible journey will perhaps have given birth to vocations in them. The grandfather is probably dreaming about it without saying so.
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In 14 ha of Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine, Fontaine welcomes more than 1700 animals belonging to more than 130 different species. Animals that feel like they are in their natural environment and Pierre Gay’s philosophy has something to do with it! Its objective is the preservation of endangered species and to make visitors aware of its various objectives.
With a smile on his face, Pierre enjoys chatting with tourists and, if possible, with animals: cries or whistles that only he has the secret to and which do not necessarily call for an answer. But its true mission is to explain the Program again and again. From the situation and the nature project featured in the film. The first aims to reintroduce individuals born in zoos into the wild for species for which it is possible. The park participates in 42 European programs. The nature project, as we have seen, works alongside the peoples of the world to protect biodiversity. These projects meet the needs of ecosystems and people and benefit from the support and expertise of the Bioparc and financial aid thanks to visits to the site, to partners and by donations to the Bioparc Conservation endowment fund. Each year, more than 20 Nature Projects are supported by the Bioparc. He donated 500,000 euros in 2022 and 3,630,000 between 2001 and today.
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The Bioparc is closed at this time of year. Otherwise during the summer season, it is open from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine is located rue de Cholet, in Doué-la-Fontaine. Prices: €19.90; €13.90 for children under 10. Such. 02 41 59 18 58
Between ecology and family heritage, take part in a 100% nature trip, this Thursday, January 26th. With “nature as a heritage”
Directed by François Derive
Production : Human Nature production
Broadcasts: Thursday January 26 at 11.45 p.m. and Friday January 27 at 9.10 a.m. on France 3 Pays de la Loire.
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