• Closed since the end of October, the Plaisance-du-Touch zoo reopened its doors to the general public on Wednesday, May 19.

  • Between animal care and births, the life of this zoological reserve did not stop during confinement.

  • The park hopes to see its public, usually 1,200 visitors per day, find their way back to this site which is home to 600 animals of 80 different species.

At the wheel of her car, Christèle is the first in a line which is getting longer every minute this Wednesday morning. She does not stand in line to take a seat on the terrace of a café, but waits for the counter of the African Safari in Plaisance-du-Touch to reopen. “We come to see the cheetahs, but also the otters. This morning, we were all ready from 9 am, it does us good to be able to say that we will be able to come back here, to go to the cinema or to the theater ”, explains this resident of the neighboring town of Colomiers, who followed the adventures of the park animals on social networks during his confinement. Established in the Toulouse area for fifty years, this zoo, usually open 365 days a year, had to close its doors for more than six months.

Subscriber, Christèle is accompanied this Wednesday by her two children, Axelle and Arthur.

The latter stamps his feet, he has trouble hiding his joy at finding the baby hippopotamus, born five days before the start of confinement, but also his parents Pipo and Légère.

Since October, Nihahsah, small but already strong, has taken the hair of the beast and can now be seen by the public within the basin of the African reserve.

Like the thirty-three animals born during these long months of closure.

Because if the bars and cultural spaces for some have drawn the curtain completely during this period, life is far from having stopped within the African Safari.

Of the thirty or so employees on the site, ten or so caretakers were on deck to ensure that the 600 animals of 80 different species that inhabit the park are fed.

Far from the incessant comings and goings of the 1,200 visitors who come every day to admire Capuchins, elephants, lions and other macaws.

“For animals, studies show that confinement hasn't changed much.

With the return of the public, there is a small adaptation, we will watch their behavior, ”explains Sylvie Clavel, the site veterinarian who is more concerned about respecting barrier gestures than for the sociability of her large menagerie.

Decrease in turnover

Back at home, Emilie is also happy to have returned to work, after several months of partial unemployment waiting at home for the zoo to reopen.

“I was in a hurry to start over, to see the animals.

It allows you to change air and reconnect with people, everyone tells me that they were impatient to come back, ”explains the young employee of the African Safari who had to deal with a loss of turnover. by 30% in recent months.

However, the charges continue to run, especially animal food which cannot be cut back.

So, everyone is working extra hard and hope to find the general public, more adept of outdoor wanderings for their family outings.

Like last summer.

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  • Covid 19

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  • 20 minutes video

  • Animals

  • Zoo

  • Deconfinement

  • Toulouse

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