Historical note
The Amnéville zoological gardens were born of a child’s dream, twinned with a passion for the animal world, held by Michel Louis and Jean-Marc Vichard. On 28 June 1986, the Amnéville Zoological Gardens opened their doors.
In 2020, the zoo extends over 18 hectares, counting 2,000 animals originating from five continents and comprising 360 different species. According to the season, it employs 100 to 160 staff and welcomes more than 500,000 visitors every year.
Daily note
Every day, our 2,000 residents consume: 600kg of meat (chicken and beef), 300kg of fish, 600 thawed prey (rats, mice, chicks, quails and rabbits), 1 tonne of hay and varied fodder, 200kg de cereals, 500kg of specific seed and pellets, 700kg of fruit and vegetables, biscuits and gingerbread, 100 servings of salad, milk, eggs, meal worms, jam, honey, etc… Each species receives vitamin and mineral supplements.At least four times a year, the animals are wormed and dung analyses are carried out. The premises are cleaned daily and regularly disinfected.Every day, whether summer or autumn, overheads amount to 29,000 Euros.
At the direction of the keepers and the work & maintenance teams, all trades are represented: the Zoo is a designer, architect, digger, bricklayer, roofer, welder, locksmith, plumber, electrician, decorator, gardener, veterinarian, ethologist, cook, salesman, accountant, publicist, filmmaker, press officer, teacher, etc. Just as an example, the gigantic installation “Orangutan Jungle” was entirely created by the Zoo’s technical team, from its foundations up to the building’s roof.
The keepers’ work is not restricted to feeding the animals and cleaning their habitat; it also consists of quickly detecting if anything is wrong. Differences in individuals’ moods need to be monitored to avoid any bloody clashes. The dates of any mating need to be noted to know when they are about to give birth: certain females need to be separated from the group.
There are pathological problems, injuries that need the assistance of vets. Yet so many problems can be avoided via strict hygiene, healthy diet and proper monitoring!
Preventive immunisations are subject to a strict timetable.
