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Photos of the Asian elephants at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes de Paris in France
Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes : 29 Photos

Photo 21: Elephant exhibit in the 1970’s - Zoo Book
The zoo keeps no more Asian elephants since 1976
 Photo 21 - 1970's:       Photo 22 - 07/2003:  
Postcard 19 - 1920's:      Photo 20 - 1970's:    
Postcard 17 - 1920's:    Postcard 18 - 1920's:  
Postcard 15 - 1920's:    Postcard 16 - 1920's:  
Postcard 13 - 1910's:    Postcard 14 - 1920's:  
Postcard 11 - 1910's:    Postcard 12 - 1910's:  
Postcard 09 - 1910's:    Postcard 10 - 1910's:  
Postcard 07 - 1900's:    Postcard 08 - 1900's:  
Postcard 05 - 1900's:    Postcard 06 - 1900's:  
Postcard 03 - 1900's:    Postcard 04 - 1900's:  
Postcard 01 - 1900's:    Postcard 02 - 1900's:  
Record of the Asian elephants at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes de Paris
Name 1900-1905-1910-1915-1920-1925-1930-1935-1940-1945-1950-1955-1960-1965-1970-1975-1980-1985-1990-1995-2000-2005-2010-2015-2020-2025
1.0 Hans23.03.1798 from the Netherlands - 17.01.1802 †
0.1 Parkie23.03.1798 from the Netherlands - 08/1804 †
0.1 --09/1820 - 1839 †
1.0 Roger17.06.1843 - 16.03.1859 †
1.0 Bangkok16.11.1862 - 08.05.1882 †
0.1 Jussia16.11.1862 - 09.12.1888 †
1.0 Koutch28.10.1894 - 11.07.15 †
0.1 Sarrith23.04.1899 - 01.08.07 †
0.1 Rachel26.04.02 - 09.11.31 †
1.0 Bebe01/1932 from Cir. Amar - ca. 1940
0.1 Jenny01/1932 from Cir. Amar - ca. 1940
1.0 --27.07.41 - 28.04.76 †
Additional photos of the Asian elephants at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes de Paris

Koutch in the 1900's

Rachel in the 1920's

Koutch in the 1910's

Rachel in the 1920's

Painting of Bangkok 1881

Koutch and Sarrith in the 1900's

The Rotonde 2003
Historical information about the Rotonde
The Rotonde is the oldest building of the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes and the first house built for large mammals at a zoological garden. Designed by the architect Molinos, it was built from 1804 to 1812. Originally scheduled to house carnivores, also large herbivores like elephants, hippopotamus, rhinoceros, buffaloes and camels inhabited the Rotonde over the years.

The most famous animal which used to live inside the Rotonde was the giraffe Zarafa, a gift from the viceroy of Egypt to King Charles X and the first giraffe that ever lived in France. She was shipped from Alexandria together with three cows for her daily milk and landed in Marseille in November 1826. During her arduous and six months lasting march through France she was hailed as a queen by the people. By the time the convoy reached Lyon, the giraffe was so famous that 30,000 people turned out to see her. After being presented on a parade in Paris to King Charles X, Zarafa became a real star for the following years.

Since 1934, during the construction of the Parc Zoologique in Paris Vincennes, the large herbivores were gradually transferred to the new zoo. The last Asian elephant, unnamed and sole throughout his lifetime, still remained until his death in 1976. In 1986, this beautiful building was nearly a ruin and it was completely renovated. The general appearance after the restoration is consistent with the spirit carried out around 1880, when heavy grates were built around the outside enclosures, from which are still a few foundations and pillars marking the entrance to the building.

Today there is the Microzoo exhibited in three of the five halls of the Rotonde. Visitors discover by microscope a multitude of microscopic animals which are living for example in the earth. The old cobblestones in the outdoor exhibits are now overgrown and form a single grass structure, where are living Seychelles giant tortoises during the summer seasons. Kiki, the largest turtle is about 120 years old the best known resident of the Rotonde in our days.

Births of Asian elephants at the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes de Paris in its history
There has never been born an Asian elephant at this zoo
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