La Palmyre Zoo's history

The zoo opens, covering 2.5 hectares and housing 160 animals.

129,500 visitors are recorded in the first season!

Arrival of the first gorillas, King-Kong, Natacha, Annette and Martha.

Construction of the giraffe enclosure and arrival of its first couple, Roby I and Sophie.

Arrival of three orangutans (Borg, Lotus and Tiba) from Twycross Zoo in England. At the same time, the zoo sees its first gorilla birth – a female named Sabrina.

Sophie gives birth to her first baby, a female called Kitrie.

Construction of the monkey house. The zoo sees its first colobus monkey birth.

Construction of the iconic flamingo rock at the entrance to the zoo and of the rhinoceros enclosure. In August 1984, the zoo welcomes its first white rhinoceros couple, Noëlle and Whist, from Holland and England respectively.

The sea lions put on their first show at the zoo!

Birth of a polar bear.

The zoo sees its first sea lion birth – which is also a first in France!

Georges de Caunes lives alone for 2 weeks on one of the zoo’s islands to observe humans from the point of view of animals.

Construction of the new Asian elephant house and area: Shinto, Malicia and Alix discover their new home! The African plain is laid out. The zoo has now doubled in surface: it covers more than 9 hectares.

A new nocturama becomes home to more than 300 Egyptian and Rodriguez fruit-bats.

Construction of the vivarium and the polar bear basin. The latter contains 1,000m3 of filtered water and includes 34m2 of 7cm-thick glass! The zoo now covers 14 hectares

Beginning of the construction of an ape area on unused land in the northern part of the zoo, behind the African plain with its ostriches, zebras and impalas.

Opening of the ape area after more than 2 ½ years of work. It houses a group of chimpanzees, a group of orangutans and 5 gorillas. The zoo now covers a total of 18 hectares.

Demolition of the old gorilla and chimpanzee building next to the lake and construction of a new building for lemurs and capuchins.

In March death of Claude Caillé, zoo founder. In september death of Irène Caillé, wife of Claude Caillé.

Opening of the new enclosure for the greater kudus near the ape area.

La Palmyre sees its first white rhinoceros birth!

Construction of a new quarantine building and also an enclosure for the bongos where the old greater kudu enclosure stood.

Renovation of the Scimitar-horned oryx building.

Construction of a new building for a male elephant.

The mandrills move to the former coati enclosure.

Construction of a new zoo gift shop.

Construction of an enclosure for the Giant Otters at the foot of the vivarium.