Zoological Garden of Monaco
The Jardin Animalier de Monaco are located on the Esplanade Rainer III, in Monaco's Fontvieille ward, on the southern side of the Rock of Monaco.[1] They were established by Rainier III, Prince of Monaco in 1954.[1] 250 animals are held in the zoo, representing some 50 species.[1]
The zoo is a hectare in size, set over four levels on the rock.[2] None of the animals were purchased, all have come from donations, circuses, or abandoned animals and those seized by circuses.[2] Five animals came to the zoo from the 2009 closure of the zoo at St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat.[2]
The zoo formerly contained leopards, but these were released into the wild due to the efforts of campaigner Virginia McKenna, founder of the Born Free Foundation.[3] The two leopards, Pitou and Sirius, had been kept in a sixteen-foot enclosure with a concrete floor.[4] McKenna had previously visited Monaco nine times in an attempt to petition Prince Rainier for the animals release, she was finally granted a royal audience with Prince Albert after his ascension to the Monegasque throne in 2005.[3] Albert agreed to release the leopards to Born Free, with a promise to release the camel and hippo in the zoo at a later date. Albert also promised to turn the Zoological Gardens into a petting zoo.[3]
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