While the fire in Teste-de-Buch (Gironde) fails to be controlled, the Arcachon basin zoo will be evacuated. More than 1000 animals will have to find refuge.
It is a large-scale and particularly delicate operation which is announced in Gironde. While firefighters are trying to put out a colossal fire that has been ravaging the surroundings of La Teste-de-Buch for almost a week, the animals of the zoo in the Arcachon basin will have to be evacuated, it has been announced. this Monday, July 18, 2022. The animal site is indeed located in the town in which the forest fire broke out. The fumes emanating from it could be dangerous, especially for animals. Reason why the decision was made to evacuate the premises. But this will not be an easy task: the zoo has more than 1000 animals.
The latter will find refuge for a time at the Pessac zoo, located 60km from their place of residence, in the western suburbs of Bordeaux. Evacuation operations are being implemented gradually. “All the parks in the west are currently transporting vehicles and care teams to ensure the proper transport of animals from Teste-de-Buch,” said Cécile Erny, from the French Parks Association. zoological, withBordeaux news. The situation is only temporary and preventive, the authorities said.
The Arcachon zoo located a few kilometers from the fire
If the decision to close and evacuate the zoo in the Arcachon basin, it is because the park, which has a hundred different species, is located on the edge of the fire which is ravaging the south of the area, adjoining on the western flank of the burning forest. Earlier in the day on Monday, the spokesman for the firefighters of Gironde had affirmed that “the fumes are toxic.” If the decision to evacuate part of the population was imposed, it was therefore followed by that of the animals in order to preserve them from any tragedy.
What animals make up Arcachon zoo?
At the Arcachon basin zoo, more than 150 different species live together in an area of 22 hectares. Various mammals, from alpacas to bears, but also panthers, rhinos, tigers, zebras, chimpanzees and even antelopes, share these lands in the company of birds of all kinds, from ducks to parrots.