El Thoiry Animal Park is an important zoological garden on the outskirts of Paris, renowned for its varied collection of exotic animal species, mainly from Africa, and also famous for being close to the historic Renaissance castle Chateau de Thoiry. The Parc Thoiry is located fifty kilometers west of Paris, and unlike in the typical urban zoos, the Thoiry zoo allows the visitor to circulate in the middle of a score of African herbivorous species that are found in freedom within this park. The Parc Thoiry was the first safari park of its kind opened in France.
This zoo extends over an area of 150 hectares, which are part of a domain greater than 380 ha. which are home to 46 mammalian species (550 animals), 26 avian species (132 birds), 9 reptile species (33) and 10 invertebrate species. This zoo recreates the typical natural landscapes of the regions where these species live, facilitating the expression and behavior of the animals.
This park, in addition to being a zoo, is also home to a large botanical garden of 126 hectares It is divided by various themes, containing different sectors under various names: Autumn Garden, Fragrant Garden, English Garden, the Labyrinth, the Rose Garden and a garden specially designed in the French style. The Thoiry Zoological Garden receives almost half a million visitors every year.
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