The Arcachon basin park had been closed for a time due to nearby fires. Hundreds of animals had to be evacuated due to the fumes.
The Arcachon basin zoo has reopened its doors. Since Saturday, the Girondin zoo has been welcoming the public again, after being closed for a time due to a fire around mid-July in the vicinity. Most of the animals had to be evacuated.
“It’s the big day! Today the park is finally reopening its doors to welcome you again every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.,” the zoo announced on its Facebook page on Saturday.
“For the occasion, a raffle will be organized on site to make you win many gifts”, specifies the park.
The vast majority of animals evacuated on July 19 have returned to the establishment and will once again be able to be admired by visitors, after being subjected to heat and stress for several days. A few more animals are expected by next week.
363 animals evacuated
The establishment had to temporarily evacuate 363 animals in mid-July due to the toxic fumes released by the fires in Gironde. Some large animals, difficult to move, such as elephants or rhinos, remained in place.
Several hundred animals had been welcomed and taken care of by carers in a dozen zoos in the area. But eight of them, mostly monkeys and birds, died during transport.
The animals had, it seems, “not survived the high heat and stress”, had indicated the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
This zoo presented 850 listed animals and nearly a hundred species spread over 22 hectares south of the town of La Teste-de-Buch.
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