Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Amnéville zoological park was founded in 1978 by a collaboration between Michel Louis and Mayor Jean Kiffer, with the aim of creating a wildlife area in the Bois de Coulange. After work started in 1985, the park opened in 1986 on 6 hectares, with 200 to 300 animals of 75 species. Supported by the municipality, he became a cooperative company (SCOP) led by Michel Louis, with Jean-Marc Vichard as assistant director. As early as 1987, the park became involved in conservation, welcoming lynxes and supporting projects such as the reintroduction of peregrine falcons.

In the 1990s, the park grew rapidly: in 1990, it exceeded 200,000 visitors and included species such as lycaons or Siberian tigers, innovative with observation windows. In 1994, he joined the European Zoos Association (EAZA) and inaugurated dedicated spaces, such as an island for gibbons (1993) or a tropical vivarium (1997). In 1999, a polar zone with bears and a giant basin was created, marking its educational and tourist ambitions.

The 2000s saw the expansion of the park with thematic areas: the African plain (2001) with giraffes and elephants, Amazon Jungle (2002) for South American fauna, and Orang-Utan的 Jungle (2007), one of the largest European facilities for orangutans. In 2009, the Predators of Heaven opened, combining equestrian falconry and the conservation of raptors. However, the controversial investment in Tiger World (2015), a tiger dressage show, leads to criticism and demotion by EAZA, despite its public success.

In 2016, the park was placed under judicial reform due to a debt of €45 million, largely due to Tiger World. Repurchased in 2020 by the Prudentia Capital Fund, it was restructured under the direction of Albane Pillure, ending the tiger show and refocusing its conservation activities. In 2021, he reopened with a new visual identity and innovations like a giant playground. Returned to EAZA in 2022, he continued his engagement with projects such as Jurassic Expedition (2025) and the Luminescences festival, while modernizing its infrastructure.

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