Brown Bear in Gramat

Located in the south-west of France, not too far from my hometown but not quite next door, Gramat's animal park is one of my favorite zoos in the world.Like many European zoos, its mission is more one of education and protection than pure entertainment. Gramat is particularly notable for housing almost exclusively European species (as well as a few invasive species, which are displayed on purpose. Ironically, the first time I approached a tanuki was there). As a child, I was not a huge fan of the zoo for this reason. You won't find elephants or lions there. As an adult, however, I applaud the initiative, as it teaches visitors about the animals that live around us (albeit fewer and fewer of them). The zoo also runs several protection programs for not only wild but also farm animals. With the industrialization of agriculture and most of the population becoming urban, the immense variety of farm animals that used to exist is slowly disappearing, being replaced by just a handful of…