ZooParc de Beauval is a sprawling zoological park in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, in France’s Centre-Val de Loire region, founded in 1980 by Françoise Delord and now run by her son Rodolphe Delord. Over four decades it has grown from a small bird park into one of the largest and most-visited animal collections in Europe, drawing more than 1.6 million guests a year and ranking as the top tourist site in the entire Loire Valley region.
The zoo is best known for being the only park in France to house giant pandas, a diplomatic loan arrangement with China that began in 2012 and has produced several panda cubs born on French soil. Beyond the pandas, Beauval’s 46 hectares hold thousands of animals across roughly 800 species, including white tigers, white lions, koalas, okapis, tree kangaroos, and one of Europe’s most successful manatee breeding programs, spread across themed greenhouses, plains, and the heated Dôme Équatorial.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher, Centre-Val de Loire, France
- Opened: 1980
- Size: 46 hectares (about 114 acres)
- Species/Animal Count: About 800 species, around 35,000 animals
- Annual Visitors: Over 1.6 million
- Famous For: France’s only giant pandas
A Zoo Built Around Rare Species
Beauval has built its reputation on housing animals rarely found elsewhere in Europe. Since the 1990s it has kept white tigers and white lions, and it operates the Dôme Équatorial, a large heated greenhouse opened in 2020 that shelters more than 200 species in a single tropical environment. The park is a member of both the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), and it runs the Beauval Nature association to fund conservation projects tied to its animal collection.
The Giant Pandas of Beauval
Beauval’s giant pandas, on loan from China since January 2012, are the park’s signature draw and the reason it remains the only French zoo with the species. The pair produced Yuan Meng, the first giant panda cub born in France, in August 2017, followed by twin cubs in 2021. The zoo’s panda enclosure, part of ‘The Heights of China’ area, continues to anchor Beauval’s identity as a conservation-focused park working directly with Chinese wildlife authorities.
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ZooParc de Beauval FAQs
Where is ZooParc de Beauval located?
It’s in Saint-Aignan-sur-Cher in the Centre-Val de Loire region of France, near the Loire Valley’s chateaux.
Does ZooParc de Beauval have giant pandas?
Yes, it’s the only zoo in France with giant pandas, on loan from China since 2012, and it has produced multiple panda cubs on-site.
How big is ZooParc de Beauval?
The park covers 46 hectares (about 114 acres) and is home to around 35,000 animals across about 800 species.
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Photo: Chatsam / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.