Ménagerie du Jardin des plantes

The Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes is a zoological garden was established in 1793 at the Rive Gauche (left bank ) of the Seine in the east of Paris (5e arrondissement ). The plant is the oldest scientific zoo in the world headed. It is part of the Jardin des Plantes referred Botanical Garden, the 1626 by Jean de La Brosse Guy Herouard and the personal physicians of King Louis XIII. was created as a royal herb garden on an original 23.5 acre site and opened to the public in 1635. Both the Zoo and the Botanical Garden, from the former occupies about a third of the surface, since the founding of the Muséum national d' histoire naturelle (1793 ) are part of this prestigious public research and educational institute for science.

History

In the wake of the French Revolution would have to pass a resolution of the National Assembly from 1793, according to, in the possession of private showman exotic animals either of the former royal menagerie ( ménagerie royale ) in Versailles or should be left to the naturalists of the Jardin des Plantes to Ausstopfung. Contrary to the latter provision allowed the animals whose exact number is unknown, live. Later the menagerie at Versailles was dissolved and these animals also came to the Jardin des Plantes.

Founder of the menagerie was Jacques -Henri Bernardin de Saint- Pierre ( 1737-1814 ). Its principles provided for a scientific management of the plant, the natural keeping of exotic animals taking into account their life needs and at the same time the public accessibility to the policy of the nation. In fact, the Ménagerie from the beginning was open free of charge to all visitors. Although it was originally set up only temporarily, she grew up within the first three decades of the 19th century to the most extensive keeping of exotic animals in Europe approach. The zoo was under first the scientific management of the then full professor of zoology at the Muséum Étienne Geoffroy Saint- Hilaire (1772-1844) and from 1805 Frédéric Cuvier, who was replaced in 1836 by Geoffroy's son, Isidore Geoffroy Saint- Hilaire.

Research

By integrating the Ménagerie in the State Research Institute Museum of Natural History ( Muséum national d' histoire naturelle) were able to study the animals physician and zoologist of the institute. In addition to vertebrate animal studies, among others, investigations on the systematics, morphology and comparative anatomy were performed as described for example Georges Cuvier operation. The field of behavioral observations devoted primarily Étienne Geoffroy and Frédéric Cuvier, Georges Cuvier 's brother. The animals there were, however, not only determined and scientifically observed, but could be drawn for the first time after life. Étienne Geoffroy Saint- Hilaire and Frédéric Cuvier published their results then in the four -part work Histoire des Mammifières. The work first appeared in 1826 and was in the course of time to a fundamental work on the biology of exotic animals. Furthermore, plans were drawn up by Frédéric Cuvier, who dealt with the breeding of new breeds of domestic animals, which he kept within the foreseeable future as feasible. Because the Jardin des Plantes was accessible to everyone, one might think that scientists reciting many of their research to " enlighten " the supposedly less educated strata of society to. However, the menagerie was rather seen as a realization of the concept of Utopia and the animals were regarded as a kind of moral support properties. They took a kind of role model for people.

Academy dispute of 1830

Frédéric Cuvier and Etienne Geoffroy Saint- Hilaire representing both the idealistic view that the blueprint of all living things uniform principles underlying. This concise opinion led in 1830 to the famous academy armed with Georges Cuvier. Main point of contention was the question of the variability of the species and a possible evolution in nature. Georges Cuvier was of the opinion that the animal kingdom is divided into individual groups constant, which ultimately led to a rejection of the theory of evolution.

Attractions and species growth

For an extension of the species range in the zoo it was mainly by French explorers, colonial officials or by gifts from private individuals. For this reason, the attractions of the Jardin far limited not on native species. The basic equipment came in 1804, the so-called " Rotonde " (round domed building ) is added, which housed such as elephants 1808 large animals. 1805 was followed by a bear pit and until 1821 there was the so-called Fauverie (German big cats ). 1825 came the aviary ( bird houses ) added the raptors and two years later a pheasant.

Probably the most famous single occupant was a giraffe called Zarafa, which came on 30 June 1827 in the Ménagerie and lived another 18 years. Zarafa was the first giraffe in recent times in Europe and unleashed in Paris an almost hysterical mass enthusiasm.

In 1837 there was the first time a monkey house, while in 1870 a reptile enclosure has been opened. Most animals were kept in functional, arranged laterally, classical and gallery -constructed buildings. The design and arrangement can therefore be considered as an expression of imperial power in France. In another part, the Vallée suisse, which was created as a romantic garden, there was increasingly little houses where exotic animals were kept, such as antelopes.

Several buildings from that era still exist today. This is the semi-circular pheasantry (1827 ), the reptile house and the new Pheasantry (1881 ).

At the beginning of the 20th century a wintering building (1905 ), a small monkey house (1928 ), a Vivarium (1929 ), a new Monkey House (1934 ) and a predator House ( 1932) were built. After this boom half a century passed without further innovations, except for the restoration of the Bear Pit and variety of technical development work. Only in 1983 a new home for the birds of prey of the park was created. In the 1980s, several renovations were carried out, such as at the Rotonde, the large aviary and the reptile house.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the " new pheasantry " from 1881 was restored. However, since the entire system is under monument protection, new plants can scarcely be built.

Today the zoo has no large animals such as elephants or rhinos, but he can come up with a variety of sometimes rare, small and medium-sized mammals. These include Binturongs, red pandas, clouded leopards, snow leopards, leopards China, Südpudus, Visayan warty pigs and lowland Anoas. Another focus are rare Gebirgshuftiere, which are represented by markhor, blue sheep, desert bighorn sheep, West Caucasian ibex, Sichuan takin, Central Chinese Goral and mountain goats. Among the largest animals of the zoo include Gaure, Przewalski's horses and Hausyaks. Monkeys are represented among others by Bornean orangutans, roloway - tailed monkeys and Schopfmangaben. In addition, the park is home to numerous species of birds, reptiles and amphibians.

Südpudu

Sichuan Takin

Flamingos

Reptile and Amphibian House

Binturong