Zoo de La Palmyre

The Zoo de La Palmyre, situated near Royan in the Charente-Maritime department of Nouvelle Aquitaine, is one of France's most visited zoos and one of the most respected in Europe for its conservation programmes and animal welfare standards. The zoo occupies 18 hectares of Atlantic coastal pine forest at Les Mathes, and its forested setting—with enclosures shaded by mature maritime pines—creates a far more naturalistic atmosphere than urban zoological parks. The zoo houses over 1,600 animals from more than 100 species, with particular strength in primate collections including western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, and woolly monkeys, as well as polar bears, white tigers, and Amur leopards. The zoo participates in European Species Survival Plans (EEP) for several critically endangered species, making conservation its stated primary mission alongside education. Animal feeding and training sessions are scheduled throughout the day and listed on the entrance noticeboard; polar bear and sea lion feeding times attract the largest crowds. The 4-kilometre circular walking route through the zoo takes a minimum of three hours at a comfortable pace; families with young children typically spend a full day. A safari-style train runs a circuit of the outer sections for visitors who prefer not to walk the full route. The zoo's restaurant and several snack kiosks offer food options, and a shop near the exit sells gifts supporting conservation projects. La Palmyre itself is a pleasant Atlantic resort with a long beach accessible on foot from the zoo car park.