Visiting Beauval Zoo? Discover the park’s most iconic animals!
Zoo de Beauval is home to no fewer than 350,000 animals from all over the world. They are divided into twenty or so areas according to their natural habitat. So if you want to discover these sometimes terrifying, majestic or adorable species, all you have to do is come to the park. And to help you prepare for your visit, we’ve put together a list of iconic animals to see at Zoo de Beauval.
1. Alligator
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Zoo de Beauval is home to the Mississippi alligator. This aquatic colossus, which can grow up to 4.5 meters in length, frightens as much as it fascinates.
With its flat snout and large teeth, this reptile is powerful enough to attack a large boar or even a deer. But rest assured, within the park, it’s perfectly harmless and can be found in the equatorial dome.
2. Chimpanzee
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It’s impossible not to fall under the chimpanzee’s spell. Intelligent primates par excellence, they’ll show you all their tricks during your visit to the park.
As the chimpanzee is an endangered species, it is one of the animals that Zoo de Beauval supports through a program aimed at species conservation. Don’t hesitate to help protect chimpanzees around the world.
3. California sea lion
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With a speed of over 40 km/h, the sea lion is an excellent swimmer. What’s more, they can dive from a height equivalent to the Eiffel Tower. These aerobatic prowess make them one of the most prized animals in zoos the world over.
The Parc de Beauval is no exception, providing California sea lions with one of the largest basins in Europe. This allows them to develop and perform acrobatics in complete peace and quiet.
4. Sumatran tiger
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Impressive in size, the Sumatran tiger is nevertheless the smallest of all tigers. This is one of the major advantages that enables it to move around the jungle unobtrusively.
Can you find them in Beauval Zoo? There are two of them. Jambi is the tigress who likes to hide. Asu, the male, regularly comes to meet visitors.
5. Panda
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Since 2012, the giant panda has been one of the animals at Zoo de Beauval. This carnivorous mammal is almost vegetarian, feeding mainly on bamboo. And the least we can say is that it loves this plant, as it spends almost 14 hours eating it.
The rest of the time, he sleeps. So during your visit, don’t be surprised if you see him eating or sleeping; these are the panda’s main activities.
6. Komodo dragon
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Reptile lovers will be delighted to discover the Komodo dragon at Zoo de Beauval. At over three meters long and weighing over 150 kilos, it’s the largest lizard in the world.
Seemingly very calm, the varan is actually a ferocious beast. Also known as the Komodo monster, it can eat pigs, deer and monkeys.
7. African savannah elephant
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One of the animals at Zoo de Beauval is, of course, the African elephant. Weighing up to seven tonnes, it is undoubtedly the largest land mammal on the planet. With several hectares at their disposal, the park’s elephants have the largest dedicated plain in France.
8. Giraffe
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Smaller but larger, the reticulated giraffe can also be found at Zoo de Beauval. This iconic animal always lives in groups to protect itself from predators. In fact, the zoo is home to eight giraffes, including a young giraffe calf born in 2019.
9. Gorilla
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A critically endangered species, western lowland gorillas are subject to a great deal of poaching and trafficking. To prevent their disappearance, Zoo de Beauval supports the Aspinal foundation, which aims to reintroduce these gorillas into the forest, with monitoring by specialists. Together with its various members, the park also contributes to the preservation of these majestic animals.
10. Cheetah
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The fastest animal on earth awaits you at Zoo de Beauval. Known for its athletic skills, the cheetah can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h. It will impress you with its slender body and long legs. And while the cheetah is a great athlete, it’s still a feline. Its favorite activity is napping.
11. Hippopotamus
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The amphibious hippopotamus is a giant mammal that lives partly underwater and partly on land. It mainly thrives in rivers, lakes or streams where all the natural elements are present. Zoo de Beauval is home to three of these animals, the latest of which appeared in 2016.
12. Koala
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Always on his eucalyptus eating tree, the Koala is absolutely calm. But be warned: if you visit the park during the mating season, he’ll probably be a little more active to seduce his female. So it’s up to you to decide when you want to see these animals at Zoo de Beauval.
13. Southern Lion
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Among the animals at Zoo de Beauval is, of course, the King of the Jungle. And you’ll probably see him sleeping. At the heart of the park, Krüger reigns supreme with his lionesses and cubs.
14. Arctic wolf
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Like all wolves, the Arctic wolf lives with his pack. With up to thirty members, wolf families never separate. Not to be outdone, Beauval Zoo has eight wolves, the last three of which were born in April 2020. Named Torok, Kiana and Kenaï, the cubs are doing perfectly well, to the delight of their parents and visitors alike.
15. Humboldt penguin
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Found on the coasts of Chile and Peru, the Humboldt penguin is an animal that lives on land as well as in the sea. As proof, it can remain apneic for more than ten minutes. This species spends its time in the sea, hunting fish, before returning to land to rest.
And once a year, this amazing animal renews its plumage. During this period, its skin becomes more fragile as it loses its insulating properties. It therefore doesn’t return to the water during the moult.