Parc des Oiseaux is one of the largest bird park in Europe and the largest in France. More than the number of birds that live there, it is the diversity of species that makes its richness.
Yet this diversity is really worthy if birds can express their real behavior. It makes no sense to expose birds as a gallery of curiosities ...
Parc des Oiseaux has made it a goal to create pens and aviaries living environments where the mineral, flowers, plant and animal live in harmony.
Different species are living together. We do take into account their roots, their need for space and their ability to coexist. Thus, birds can find a behavior similar to the one that has been observed in nature.

Similarly, the choice of species meets the desire to welcome the birds in good condition. It also responds to the will of the park to present the great variety of colors, faces and behavior of birds of the world. A third criterion - which is the most essential for the Park - is to contribute to the preservation of endangered species.

• What is avian influenza?

This is an animal disease caused by a virus. It primarily affects birds, particularly domesticated birds like chickens. Veterinarians call "avian influenza". The avian flu virus takes different forms across regions and between years. Some strains are harmless, others are much more virulent in the case of the H5N1 strain which we speak today.

It is a non-human disease; some forms can cause high mortalities, especially among the chickens and turkeys.

• Do we take risks alongside the birds?

Exceptionally, the virus can infect humans and cause serious illness. But this requires close and prolonged contact with infected birds. The World Health Organization has identified hundreds of deaths (since December 2003), making it a very rare compared to the number of people living in the affected regions (China, Southeast Asia, Turkey ...) . So far, all cases of contamination are due to domestic poultry, not wild birds, free or captive.

So far, the avian influenza virus has never gone from a wild bird to a man.

• What is the Park do to prevent the risk of avian flu?

Parc des Oiseaux has been involved for over 10 years in the scientific monitoring of avian influenza virus. This work helped searchers to understand the circulation of such viruses in wildlife. In 2005 and without waiting for the containment measures, the park had increased its level of health surveillance:

• Daily visual inspection of the health of all birds;
• Systematic autopsy of all birds, wild or not, found dead on the park and reserve;
• When doubting, samples are sent to a lab for further analysis referenced.

According to the recommendations of the European Union and the Order of the Ministry of Agriculture requiring vaccination of all birds in zoos, all birds were vaccinated against avian flu from March 2006. The reminding of vaccination was carried out in early April 2006.

** ** Park participates in the monitoring network of bird flu. The health surveillance has been strengthened and the birds are vaccinated.

All measures of protection and surveillance of birds are being implemented under the supervision of state services.

Over the years, Parc des Oiseaux has been one of the largest and finest collections on the European level. Over the years some species have seen their number decreased dramatically in the wild, even regarded as extinct for sure. This recent upheaval, that has been growing faster than we know the last fifty years, has changed the role of zoos, justifying their status as repositories of endangered species.

This new dynamic has lead to the creation of organizations responsible for articulating and organizing the collaboration of all those who are likely to respond to the protection and preservation of species.
The EAZA, the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums, is one of the largest organizations in Europe. Its goal is to give to zoos in Europe the opportunity to exchange birds, but also the knowledge and expertise that would help to preserve and reproduce the species.
This approach undertaken by the parks, which for some species, is the subject of population monitoring and management to ensure the genetic viability of the captive population for the next 200 years. These species are then listed in the EEP, which are programs for conservation and breeding.
Currently Parc des Oiseaux is an active member of scientific committees of vulture, the Philippine Cockatoo, the Dalmatian pelican and the blue-throated Macaw.

To ease the monitoring of bird populations in Europe, each park has the opportunity to fill data in a database, offering record on birds species in captivity. This global database, called ISIS, is an essential database for the work of the EAZA.

15 years ago, Parc des Oiseaux was a founding member of CEPA (Association for Conservation of Species and Animal Populations). This association aims to finance programs for the protection and conservation of rare species in nature. This national network provides financial support to individual actions but also provides a technical and advisory role.