Réserve zoologique de la Haute-Touche
Open every day
Do you love nature and wide open spaces? The largest zoological park in France awaits you. At the gateway to the Parc Naturel de la Brenne (Brenne Natural Regional Park), in the Indre department, la Réserve zoologique de la Haute-Touche is home to 1,500 animals from all five continents in the heart of a 436-hectare forest estate.
On the verge of extinction
How about a walk through a hundred hectares entirely dedicated to the protection of endangered species? Comfortably installed in their vast wooded enclosures, wolves, cheetahs, tigers, lynxes as well as herds of deer, antelopes and mouflons or baboons, lemurs and flocks of birds await you.
Safari in the Berry
A 4 km long safari by car starts as soon as you enter the reserve. It offers the opportunity to discover the great European fauna - Alpine ibexes, wolves, wild boars, deer... as you might observe them in the wild. Then you enter the vast enclosures dedicated to endangered herbivores (Formosa sika deer, Father David's deer, oryx algazelle...). Thanks to the educational panels, you will easily understand the role played by the Haute-Touche in Europe and in the world in terms of research, conservation and wildlife management.
Adventure circuit
All alight here! The tour continues on foot, by bike or electric cart, via shaded paths. The trails are marked with information, observatories and picnic areas, and allow you to discover the fauna of the five continents. Two signposted routes are available: the "World Park" circuit in white (2 km) or, for the more curious, the "Rescue" circuit in red (2.5 km) which takes you to the heart of the park, to meet the wild animals. Compare the felines of Africa with those of Asia, the canids of America with those of Europe and Asia, the baboons of Africa with the lemurs of Madagascar... There are hundreds of eyes watching you! Cheetahs, hyenas, antelopes and birds, all African, scan the visitors around a vast stretch of water, where lemurs and baboons emerge from islands...
Successful breeding
La Réserve zoologique de la Haute-Touche is the only zoological establishment with the status of a research laboratory and contributes to a better knowledge of wild fauna and its conservation. Some forty species are bred there as part of international programmes coordinated by the European Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums (EAZA). Among them are French species: the European pond terrapin (aquatic turtle) and the little bustard (migratory bird). Each year, young animals raised here are released into their natural environment to prevent the extinction of the last populations. The bustards are returning to central-western France, while the European pond turtles are once again conquering the Savoie region, where they had disappeared a century ago. Would you like to see them?
How to find us
Route départementale 975
36290 Azay-le-Ferron