Covering 80 hectares, Lunaret Zoo in Montpellier is the second largest zoo in France.
Admission is free.
In 1963, Mr. Doumenge, an oceanographer and deputy mayor of Montpellier, drew up the boundaries of the future zoo.
The zoo was built thanks to the Harkis, and a plaque paying tribute to them can be found at the park entrance.
The zoo opened its doors in 1964 with a zebra as its first resident. Over the years, it expanded with the opening of the Children's Farm in 1982, the creation of the Lez Nature Reserve in 2000, and the development of three major enclosures in 2001: Atlas lions, Syrian bears, and white rhinos.
Then in 2010, an enclosure was opened for giraffes.
Today, more than 1,100 animals representing 130 species, including lions, giraffes, zebras, brown bears, birds, and primates, live in the zoo, which you can explore along an 11-kilometer trail.
On June 30, 2007, an Amazonian greenhouse, unique in France, opened its doors to the public within the zoo.
This greenhouse is home to seven climate zones, more than 500 animals, and nearly 3,500 tropical plants, offering visitors a real walk in the heart of the rainforest.
In 2014, construction began on new cheetah enclosures. It was completed with the construction of the eighth enclosure in 2015.
This facility, inaugurated in 2016, makes Montpellier Zoo a major breeding center.
While there had been no cheetah births at Lunaret Park since 1968, 16 cubs have been born since 2018, a real success!
A welcoming rest area dedicated to observing the local flora and fauna was inaugurated in May 2023.
The trail climbs from the mangrove swamp to the heights of the canopy. During the walk, you may encounter a storm.
Montpellier Zoo
50, avenue Agropolis,
34090 Montpellier
Tel.: +33 (0)4 67 54 45 23
Translated with DeepL.com
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