Events 2019

AFSA conference at the Doué-la-Fontaine Biopark

From 25 to 28 March 2019, the Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine welcomed the members of AFSA (Association Francophone des Soigneurs Animaliers), to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Association. There were many conferences and workshops on biology, captive care, breeding experiments, conservation, etc. A team from the CPPR proposed a workshop entitled "How to study and protect the red panda in its natural environment".

This workshop idea came about following our first mission to Nepal in November 2018, during which Hélène, our president, and Alexis, our secretary, were able to take part in a field study and observe the park rangers. The workshop consisted of role-playing, with members of the Red Panda Network, park rangers, police officers and poachers. The aim was to understand the actions taken in the field to study and protect the red panda in its natural environment.

The workshop was very well received and the participants were very interested! We would like to thank the Bioparc of Doué-la-Fontaine for its welcome, and also for having lent us the old vulture quarry for the workshop, and the AFSA for having allowed us to organise this activity, and thus contributed to making us known and talking about our actions.

Souchinet Farm

On 18 April 2019, Hélène, our president, went to the Souchinet farm to give a course on the red panda to the students of the animal keeper training course. She was accompanied by a member of the CPPR, Audrey. The workshop lasted 3 hours in total, and was divided into two parts: The first part was a presentation of the animal, its biology, its habitat, its way of life, the threats it faces and the means of conservation used. The second part consisted of having the students work on the design of an enclosure and enrichment for the red pandas. Their proposals were very coherent and they seemed attentive and interested.

Lyon Zoo

On 4 and 5 May 2019, Lyon Nature and the Friends of Lyon Zoo organised the "rendez-vous de la biodiversité", bringing together different Associations and Organisations, around themed "villages". Our CPPR team was therefore present in the "Conserve Biodiversity" village, alongside ABConservation (for the protection of the Binturong) and Lemur Rescue Center.

Despite the windy weather on both days, the public was quite present, and above all very interested in our actions. Many tried the "panda challenge", eager to learn while having fun.

A lot of mutual aid too, when a gust of wind blew away some of our equipment: both the public and the volunteers from the other associations! In short, a very nice atmosphere!

We thank Lyon Nature and the Friends of Lyon Zoo for their hospitality.

MFR of Carquefou

On Saturday 18 May 2019, Hélène, our president, and Alexis, our secretary, went to the open house of the MFR of Carquefou, for the 20th anniversary of the animal care training. To celebrate the event, the MFR of Carquefou had planned a programme full of activities: mini farm, herd dog demonstration, free-flying bird demonstration, horse-drawn carriage, escape game caravan, food trucks, wooden games, musicians, inflatable structures...

In addition to the stand, Hélène gave a talk at the end of the day. Few people attended (about twenty in all), as a free flight demonstration was taking place at the same time, but people were sensitive to Hélène's speech, and some even came to the stand at the end of the presentation. Not many people came to the stand during the day, and the weather was more than mixed. Fortunately the atmosphere was good, and the welcome very warm! Thanks to the MFR of Carquefou for this invitation.

Clères Park

On 25 and 26 May 2019, the Clères park celebrated its centenary by inviting associations, craftsmen and troupes for a busy and colourful programme of events.

Our volunteers took place in one of the tents of the "festival village", to propose our games, make-up, colouring, display our panels, our shop, and talk about our different conservation campaigns. The "panda challenge" was a great success, as usual, and our face painters were very busy!

Unfortunately, the weather was not good, and Mother's Day and the elections on Sunday also affected the attendance at the park. But the atmosphere was there, and the park staff regularly visited the stand to check that we had everything we needed. Thanks to them for their welcome!

Jurques Zoo

On 22 June 2019, three CPPR volunteers went to Jurques Zoo, for a day dedicated to the red panda. The sun was shining too, and so it was under a blue sky that our volunteers set up the stand, in a small enclave between the prairie dogs, the porcupines and the parakeet aviary, but not far from the red pandas! We had plenty of time to watch them as they slept in the trees.

Two animations were planned during the feedings: One at 11:15, a second one at 15:30. Few people in the morning, but very interested by the speech, a family even came at the end of the animation, on the stand, to continue to discuss and buy things. On the other hand, there were more people in the afternoon, but they didn't stay to listen... And, big strategic mistake on our part, we had put the make-up table at the back of the enclave. As a result, few children came to be made up.

The results were mixed, but our volunteers had a very good day, thanks to the warm welcome they received from the entire zoo team, who took turns throughout the day to see if everything was going well and if they needed anything. Many thanks to them!

Doué-la-Fontaine Biopark

On 18 July 2019, for the "carer for nature" event, the Doué-la-Fontaine Biopark had invited several associations, including the CPPR. During this special day, the Biopark's caretakers were mobilised to present various activities to the public, either to raise awareness of conservation or to raise funds: games, face painting, tombolas (with feedings or animal returns to be won!), information stands, wood carving, sales of objects...

All the Associations' stands were lined up between the snack bar and the otters. We offered our games (bamboo race and panda challenge), our information boards and colouring. And of course our shop!

Not many sales, some people said in passing that they couldn't give to all the associations, but still 20 trees were sponsored for our reforestation campaign. And always a great success with our games "the panda challenge" and "the bamboo race"! People like to learn things by playing, it's fun and educational!

The results were quite positive, because people were sensitive to our message. The staff of the Biopark were very kind to us, the caretakers came by in turn to see if everything was going well, to discuss with us and to get to know the Association. A beautiful sunny afternoon, in a very good atmosphere!

ZooParc of Trégomeur

On 25 July 2019, 3 volunteers went to the ZooParc de Trégomeur, for an awareness day dedicated to the Red Panda. It was a hot day, and despite our "ideal" location next to the restaurant, few people came to visit the zoo that day. We still offered various activities: the "panda challenge" game, the "bamboo race" game, face painting, colouring, information panels, a shop, and an animation at feeding time at 5.15 pm.

Games such as the "Adopt a Tree" campaign offer a concrete support for dialogue: providing information about both the pandas and the Association, as well as about global actions in favour of the red panda. People were very sensitive to this, and 33 trees were sponsored during the day!

The zoo staff were very helpful, and we were sorry that there were not more people there. We felt a real willingness to participate in our project, and we thank them very much!

Domaine de La Bourbansais

On 30 July 2019, it was under a mixed and wet sky that our volunteers set up their tent at the Domaine de la Bourbansais, in front of the red pandas' enclosure, on the grass. In the tent, we had grouped everything together because of the rain: the shop on one side, the colouring, the bamboo race and the face painting on the other. The signs had been pinned up in the enclosure. Several people tried out the Panda Challenge, and enjoyed it very much, especially the fact that they were learning things while having fun. Almost all of them adopted a tree afterwards, or took something from the shop.

To sum up, it was a small day, but with a very good atmosphere! Not many people came on the day, because of the rain, but the people who came to shelter were happy to discuss, sensitive to our actions. Many adopted a tree or bought something. The zoo staff were very welcoming, and we will gladly come back next year!

Domaine de Pescheray

On the weekend of 17-18 August, as part of its first Conservation Weekend, the Domaine de Pescheray had invited 4 associations to come and hold a stand: ABConservation, MakiGo, the LPO and the CPPR. Unfortunately, the weekend turned into a "day", due to bad weather on Saturday. We still set up the tents on Sunday, hoping to have a few people there.

3 Associations, including ours, were placed next to the snack bar, in front of the playground, for a better visibility from the public. Small hitch: the snack bar is located on the loop of the large course, which means that people who were only using the small loop could not see us. The LPO had been placed at the entrance, under a covered area. The other three associations were placed in line along the snack bar.

Unfortunately, not many people came during the day, and where we were placed, people were more interested in having a coffee break or a sandwich... They didn't necessarily want to be interested in the stands. A short day, but in a very good atmosphere, the zoo staff was very warm towards us. We'll do the crossroads next year, hoping to reach more people!

Zoo de La Flèche

On 19 and 20 August 2019, we pitched our tent under the siamang pergola at La Flèche zoo, opposite the red panda enclosure. Under the tent, we had set up the shop and the make-up workshop. The colouring, the "bamboo race" and the whiteboard with information about the Association, as well as the AuA campaign, were placed further upstream to attract visitors.

In the end, there was quite a lot of traffic over the two days, with the colouring tables and "bamboo race" being busy almost all the time. We were short of volunteers for the make-up, but Melissa did really well! Well done to her! As for the AuA campaign, highlighting it on the board raised enough money to plant 44 trees! Indeed, people came to the tent on purpose asking to adopt some. They had read the board beforehand and were only coming for that!

Le Pal Nature Foundation Day

On 13 October 2019, the Le Pal Nature Foundation organised its 8th Nature Conservation Awareness Day. The Attraction Park was closed, so only the animal part could be visited. Several associations were present for the occasion, including three members of the CPPR, who set up their stand in front of the red pandas' enclosure!

The sun was also present, and the visitors came in great numbers. The crowds were almost non-stop from 10am to 6pm (the day was originally supposed to end at 5pm), but our three volunteers held on (well done to them!). The shop was packed, and the "panda challenge" was a great success. With a good presentation (poster on a desk, well defined space) the game attracted a lot of people and was enjoyed by all ages! Throughout the day, the interest in the CPPR's activities was great and led to many questions. In short, a very nice day, rich in encounters and sharing.

ZooParc of Trégomeur

On 17 November 2019, the ZooParc de Trégomeur organised for the second consecutive year the Breizh'Asia, a charity race for the benefit of associations that the zoo supports. This year, we were present alongside ABConservation (Arctictis Binturong Conservation) and MakiGo.

3 routes were planned: 1 for adults, which passed in front of the associations' stands, and 2 for children, in the zoo.

We were placed in the car park, at the level of the stairs leading to the entrance of the park. So visitors couldn't miss us!

It was a great event. Many people came to the event. There was also a great solidarity between associations, whether it was in terms of setting up, running the stands, discussions... And an ever so warm welcome from the ZooParc teams, which we would like to thank for their generosity.

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