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Animal sanctuary

Adopt a goat scheme in France looks for landowners to save animals

Around 1,000 goats have been saved from the abattoir in five years

Dogs die of rare disease in south-west France: vaccination advised

Some animal shelters have been forced to close temporarily. Health authorities say they are not unduly concerned

Fears for future of Marineland whales in south of France

One welfare association fears the orcas may be sent to Japan - a country with fewer protections for whales - and separated for reproduction reasons

news

Fire at French wildlife park home to bears and big cats

Around 170 firefighters attended the scene and all animals and workers were evacuated

Record animal abandonment in France sparks shock campaign

The heartbreaking ads aim to show how pets feel when their owners ‘disappear’

Five good news stories from France

Read our pick of feelgood articles including an eagle's successful recovery from injury, an amazing artefacts find and a nice initative to help refugees

Street in France renamed after famous Nancy chimpanzee, Jojo

Jojo died in 2012 but a plaque has been installed in his memory, and as a marker of changing attitudes towards animal welfare

Endangered vultures have laid eggs for the first time in French Alps

Bearded vultures were reintroduced to the area in 2013 after they all but died out in the early 1900s. Then, it was popular for hunting parties to shoot up to 40 of them in a day

SNCF staff chaperone abandoned pets to their new homes across France

These ‘Angels of the Railway’ use their free train journey allocation and days off to take adopted animals to their new families

Europe's only elephant sanctuary in France welcomes first resident

An ageing zoo elephant called Gandhi has become the first inhabitant of a groundbreaking retirement home after nine years of work to get it open

France launches €20m action plan against animal abandonment

Shelters at full capacity as people dump dogs, cats, rodents and other animals post-lockdown

Circuses ‘are reluctant to give up their animals’

Europe’s first elephant sanctuary near Limoges is ready to home former circus elephants, but know it will take time

Wolves still loose in southern France after Storm Alex

Searches are still underway for the wolves after the storm caused severe damage - but the animals are not dangerous to humans, experts say

Wolves rehomed after storm destroys French wildlife park

Animal sanctuary welcomes new lupine guests after a 20-hour cross-country journey

French animal sanctuary in urgent need of donations

Big V, a sanctuary in France that cares for more than 160 rescued animals, is in urgent need of donations and volunteers if it is to survive

Europe’s first elephant sanctuary is ready to host animals

Europe’s first “retirement home” for zoo and circus elephants is now ready – and waiting to welcome its first residents.

Pets and Covid-19 in France: FAQs and vet care rules

A full list of when it is still permitted to take your pet to the vet in France, receive veterinary care, and how to take care of your domestic pet during the time of Covid-19 confinement - has been published.

New video shows Pyrenees brown bear in good health

New video images have been released showing Sorita - a female brown bear released into the Béarn in the French Pyrenees last year - to be in good health, scratching her back, and perhaps even expecting cubs.

French pet owners warned over ‘lost pet’ scam

Pet owners in France are being warned against a new scam that asks owners of lost pets to pay a “ransom to reclaim” their beloved animal, only to find that their pet is still lost.

French animal rescue group warns over abandoned pets

An animal rescue society in the north of France has raised the alarm over the number of abandoned animals it encounters, including cats left in rubbish bins and dogs tied to roadside fences.

Situation 'critical' at French animal rescue centres

Available places hard to find as SPA centres reach 'saturation point'

8000 pets 'abandoned in France this summer'

Société protectrice des animaux centres have been inundated ahead of holiday season, president says

Lion born in France travels to UK to help save species

A new Franco-British relationship is to begin this month, as a male Asiatic lion born in France is to travel to Bristol Zoo (UK) to be coupled with a female, as part of plans to help save this endangered species.

Could you help transport animals in need?

Association looking for volunteers to help transport animals in need to care centres

Missing: Bald eagle from French animal park

An 18-year-old bald eagle with a 2.2-metre wingspan is the subject of a major search operation in Brittany, after she became lost during a display at the Aquashow animal park in Finistère.

French chateau overrun by protected storks

A 13th century French chateau once owned by the family of William the Conqueror has been taken over by more than 170 storks, which a bird expert has said is a rare event in France.

Donation boost for French elephant sanctuary

Europe's first elephant “retirement home” is hoping to open this year thanks to a grant from the British-based Olsen Animal Trust.

Record participation in 2019 France-wide bird count

A record 10,664 gardens in France took place in the January 2019 bird counting event organised by bird welfare group the LPO, it has been confirmed, as the next 2019 event dates are announced.

French police dog handlers launch kennel crowdfund

Two police dog handlers in Marseille have launched an online crowdfunding campaign to help fund a project to provide kennels for retired service dogs.

Ethical search engine donates to animals in refuges

Google may be the search engine of choice for many and the likes of DuckDuckGo and Nice-based Qwant offer alternatives that do not store data.

Farmers in French Pyrenees try to scare bears to Spain

Farmers and hunters in the French Pyrenees have attempted to move two female bears towards the Spanish side of the border using “scare tactics”.

Loggerhead turtles in rare hatching on French beach

Over 60 baby loggerhead turtles have hatched on a beach near Montpellier (Hérault, Occitanie), becoming one of the only known cases of the species ever successfully reproducing in France.

Homeowners in France urged to help protect hedgehogs

Homeowners and gardeners in France are being encouraged to make their gardens hedgehog friendly to prevent the animals’ extinction, and encourage them to eat garden pests such as slugs and snails.

French activists protest against dolphin captivity

Animal rights activists have mounted a protest against keeping dolphins in captivity by disrupting a public show at the Parc Astérix, in Oise (Hauts-de-France).

Gardeners called to save France’s declining hedgehogs

Gardeners and car drivers across France are being called to watch out for and protect hedgehogs, in a bid to save the creatures from ever-greater threats in their natural habitats.

Fox cubs run amok in Paris cemetery

A group of fox cubs have been spotted playing in a cemetery just one kilometre from La Porte de Choisy in Paris.

Adopt a pet? SPA launches SOS summer campaign

Animal protection group SPA has launched an “SOS adoption” campaign to boost pet adoption levels amid claims that shelters are “full” and pet rescue figures are dropping ahead of the crucial summer months.

Who will do the donkey work now?

Looking for volunteers to help at sanctuary

Bardot gift to elephant OAP home

Plans for the first elephant ‘retirement home’ in Europe have been boosted by a €350,000 donation from the Brigitte Bardot animal foundation

Can you help donkey sanctuary survive?

Changes to French employment law means donkey sanctuary will be unable to do much-needed work as it cannot afford to pay staff

France rebuked for not protecting Pyrenees bears

Judges order state to pay €8,000 for “not doing enough”

30 animals evacuated from Haute-Savoie centre

An equestrian centre in the Haute-Savoie has been evacuated, with 30 animals rescued due to concerns over their welfare in the region’s current freezing temperatures.

Nantes' Grand Eléphant back on parade for real thing

Owners of much-loved mechanical attraction hope to raise €15,000 a year to help protect real-live animals

Thoiry zoo to welcome new rhino after fatal poaching

Thoiry zoo (Yvelines, Île-de-France) is to welcome a new rhinoceros almost one year after one of its former rhinos, Vince, was killed by poachers.

Name of France’s first baby panda finally revealed

The name of the new baby panda at the Zoo Parc de Beauval (Loir-et-Cher) has finally been revealed, after its baptism in the presence of its “godmother”, Brigitte Macron.

Killing of Paris tiger prompts anti-circus protests

The killing of a tiger in Paris that had escaped from a travelling circus has prompted protests and renewed calls to ban circuses from using animals at all.

Limousin charity aims to help retired circus elephants

Following last week's announcement that Italy and Ireland are to ban wild animals in circuses, animal rights workers are pushing hard for France to follow suit.

Book tells heart-warming 'tail' of dog retirement home

Money raised from sale of Paws Before Bedtime will go toward's dog care centre's €35,000-a-year costs

Public asked to name French park's new baby hippo

What would you name a baby hippo? Animal park Planète Sauvage, in Port-Saint-Père (Loire-Atlantique), is asking members of the public to name a new arrival, it announced this week.

Elephant retirement home may open in Haute-Vienne

A retirement home for elephants is hoping to open in Haute-Vienne (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), with two ex-zoo keepers aiming to welcome the first animals in 2018.

Donkey rubbish collectors are a hit

The people of the Île d'Oléron have found an innovative new way to collect rubbish