your questions F.A.Q.

Credit card, cash and holidays lays are allowed.

​We estimate the EcoZonia visit time at 2h30 (lunch time not included). To fully enjoy the visit, surprising encounters with zoo keepers and falconers will be offered to you.

​Any exit is permanent.

Changing tables are installed in the sanitary facilities.
​Microwaves are at your disposal at the reception and in the catering area to heat small jars and bottles.
​Baby carriers and all-terrain strollers are available for hire at the entrance to the park at a price of 4 euros with an identity document as a guarantee, subject to availability. The park is accessible with your own strollers.

​An meal area is available at the Catalan mini-farm. The gourmet food truck "Le loup catalan" restores you with seasonal menus.

Picnicking is prohibited in the park, a dedicated area is available between the parking at the ticket office.

I​t is strictly forbidden. The site benefits from a dry forest environment with rich biodiversity. However, the area is also subject to strong winds and forest fires are not rare. In order to limit any risk of fire, and for the safety of all, smokers are asked to respect this instruction.

​The pets are not allowed in the park. For safety and sanitary reasons for our animals, only guide dogs and the park's shepherd dog are allowed on the site.

We do not have a kennel to place your pet during your visit. You can contact the pension "Un poil d'éducation" located in Espira d'Agly, 10 minutes from EcoZonia. (Subject to availability)

​The EcoZonia natural site is located on rolling lawns in the forest. We recommend that you wear walking shoes suitable for the terrain.

If you call the reception, adapted electric vehicles are free available for people with reduced mobility.

The park is accessible with your strollers, however, we recommend baby carriers.

The animals housed at EcoZonia were either born in captivity in zoos or breeding centres, or came from care centres. French and international authorities ensure compliance with current legislation and the application of the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. At EcoZonia, non-domesticated animals have no commercial value, in accordance with EAZA guidelines.

The case of raccoon dogs at EcoZonia

Raccoon dogs are born in the wild. Legally considered invasive in Europe (invasive alien species), the individuals taken in by the park were initially destined to be euthanised. As they could not be released into the wild without risking harm to the environment, they were placed at EcoZonia.

I​t is strictly forbidden. The animals in the park all have their own diet approved by our veterinarian. Not all species eat the same thing, and human food can cause serious health problems for them.

Pellets will nevertheless be made available in the Catalan area to feed the goats and sheep. (Daily quantity limited and approved by the veterinary services)

​Most of the animals in the park are wild and dangerous animals. For health and safety reasons and in order to preserve the natural behavior of animals, it is forbidden to cross safety barriers and come into contact with animals. Only the zookeepers are authorized and trained to take care of the animals. You can touch the animals at the Catalan mini-farm. Nevertheless, thank you for respecting the tranquility of the animals and not entering the enclosure.

​In Ecozonia most species feed on meat, but not only. Some animals are omnivorous and eat fruits and vegetables like bears and others are completely vegetarians like Catalan farm animals. On average, here is the weekly consumption of our animals:

• Meat : 300kg
• Fruits and vegetables :420kg
• Fodder & pellets : 250kg
  

This is a complex issue because many factors come into play. Among other things, it depends on the species, the history of each individual, and their geographical distribution.

Reintroductions are rare because the natural environment of endangered species is often degraded. EcoZonia therefore primarily supports organisations that develop sustainable solutions to preserve species in their natural environment – i.e. those that work to protect both the habitat and the animals that live there, while raising awareness among local populations.

Nevertheless, to limit the decline of certain species and when the environment has been restored, the reintroduction of animals from captivity may be necessary to strengthen wild populations (e.g. this is the case for the Iberian lynx). Animals are chosen according to their genetic and behavioural aptitudes.

The reintroduction of a Laggar falcon or a black vulture, planned from the moment they hatch, is easier than that of a large predator such as a panther. However, by following specific protocols – which can take several years – it is possible to reintroduce individuals born to parents housed in animal parks into the wild.

EcoZonia has therefore applied to participate in three reintroduction programmes:

• Laggar Falcon (Falco jugger)
• Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
• Amur Leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis)

Once reintroduced, it is essential to monitor these animals to ensure that they adapt to their new environment, reproduce and thus contribute to strengthening the wild population. Their survival – and the maintenance of populations – is closely linked to habitat conservation and their acceptance by local human populations, so efforts must continue even after reintroduction.

Some references for further reading on the subject: Reintroduction of captive-born animals / Analysis of reintroduction survival rates in carnivores / Experimental reintroduction of the Asian giant otter / Reintroduction of Ural owls