Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine

What Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine does

Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine is a privately held, family-owned zoological park founded in 1961 in Doué-la-Fontaine, Maine-et-Loire, France, operated across three generations of the Gay family. It is the only troglodytic zoo in the world, built into former underground stone quarries whose naturally climate-controlled tunnels house 2,000 animals across XXL naturalistic habitats designed to replicate species' native environments without cages or training. The core product is admission to the park, layered with on-site F&B (Le Camp des Girafes panoramic restaurant), three-star lodging opposite the park (Gîtes du Bioparc), premium experiences (Visite VIP, Soigneur d'un jour, children's birthday parties), a structured calendar of seasonal events, and school programs with DSDEN49-validated pedagogical content.

The business model is predominantly direct-to-consumer, with revenue diversified across ticket sales (including a Zoo Pass subscription), F&B, accommodation, premium experiences, group bookings for CSE committees and tourism professionals, and donations routed through Bioparc Conservation — the zoo's endowment fund established in 2010 with a stated commitment to redirect 4% of revenue to conservation associations. Distribution combines the zoo's own online ticketing and on-site box office with a formalized reseller partner portal and CSE deposit-sale channels. The operating model is anchored by an integrated ex-situ conservation program supporting 18 projects across Mongolia, Bulgaria, the French Pyrénées, Provence, and Nepal, and includes IUCN membership, ISO 14001 certification, and recognition from National Geographic and the Diamond Themepark Award (2nd best zoo in Europe, 2020).

The company operates from a single regional site in Maine-et-Loire near Angers and Saumur, with no identified parent entity, no external investment or public shareholders, and a headcount of 11–50 employees. Recent strategic activity has centered on facility expansion (Les Fantômes de l'Himalaya in 2017, La Volière Africaine in 2021), high-profile species births reinforcing the breeding program, and the buildout of content IP (a podcast and a graphic novel) to extend audience engagement beyond the operating season.

Name

Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine

Legal name

Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine

Website

https://bioparc-zoo.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine is a family-owned French zoological park founded in 1961 and the world's only troglodytic zoo, built into former stone quarries housing 2,000 animals. It serves families, school groups, CSE committees, and tourism visitors through admission tickets, on-site lodging, dining, and premium experiences anchored by a global conservation program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Doué-la-fontaine

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Entry tickets to the zoo, with various categories including standard day tickets, special evening events, and season passes (Zoo Pass).
2. Food & Beverage: On-site restaurants including Le Camp des Girafes (panoramic restaurant facing giraffes and zebras) and Lions Bar. Products sourced from bio/local suppliers.
3. Accommodation (Gîtes du Bioparc): Three-star gites located opposite the park, accommodating families, groups, and people with reduced mobility.
4. Premium Experiences: Special experiences including VIP visits, 'Soigneur d'un jour' (zookeeper for a day), birthday parties, and gift cards.
5. Group Bookings: CSE/committees, school groups, leisure centers, specialized welcome programs, and corporate events with discounted group rates.
6. Conservation Donations: Donations to Bioparc Conservation fund supporting nature projects worldwide. Entry tickets, visitor purchases, and donations fund conservation efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine operates a zoological park built in former underground stone quarries in Maine-et-Loire, France. The park admits visitors to view approximately 2,000 animals housed in naturalistic XXL spaces, sells premium experiences (zookeeper-for-a-day, VIP visits), on-site dining, and adjacent three-star gîte accommodation, and runs school, CSE, and tourism professional group bookings alongside an annual calendar of seasonal events.

Product overview

The Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine is a troglodyte zoo offering a unified portfolio of visitor experiences centered around its core admission product. The portfolio spans immersive add-on experiences (Soigneur d'un jour, Visite VIP, birthday celebrations), dining (Le Camp des Girafes panoramic restaurant), and accommodations (three-star Gîtes du Bioparc). The park also runs a structured calendar of seasonal events (Easter egg hunt, twilight visits, Nature Race, career encounters, autumn invasion) and school educational programs. Ancillary offerings include a podcast, a published graphic novel, gift vouchers, and CSE/group ticketing. All offerings are tied to the park's mission of biodiversity conservation and species protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bioparc Conservation: Endowment fund created in 2010 to support nature conservation projects worldwide, allowing individuals and organizations to contribute to biodiversity protection initiatives.

Products and services

• Zoo admission tickets Day passes that grant visitors access to the park's troglodyte site, animal enclosures, and daily nature animations. Target customers are individual visitors, families, and organized groups.
• Soigneur d'un jour (Zookeeper for a Day) Premium immersive experience in which visitors shadow the animal care team to learn about the daily work of zookeepers and the park's animal diversity. Sold as a standalone bookable experience for individuals and families.
• Visite VIP (VIP Guided Visit) Guided VIP access to enclosures normally closed to the general public, with close-up animal encounters. Marketed as a premium family experience.
• Children's birthday celebrations Birthday party packages held on the park's panoramic terrace with included refreshments, available for families booking children's parties at the zoo.
• Gift vouchers (Bons cadeaux) Gift cards redeemable against VIP visits, Zookeeper for a Day experiences, Zoo Passes, gîte stays, and other visit products.
• Le Camp des Girafes restaurant 100-seat panoramic restaurant with views of giraffes and zebras, serving dishes prepared on site with bio and local ingredients. Open to park visitors and the general public.
• Les Gîtes du Bioparc (Bioparc cottages) Three-star gîte accommodation opposite the park comprising Le Grand Nid, Les Nids douillets, and Le Nid PMR (accessible unit for guests with reduced mobility). Targets families, groups, and accessible-stay visitors.
• School educational programs Pedagogical packages for school groups from kindergarten to high school, including free pre-visits, a year-long correspondence project with 'Lucie the vulture,' and multi-day stays. Content validated by DSDEN49 (Direction des Services Départementaux de l'Éducation Nationale).
• CSE and group ticketing Reduced-rate group tickets and unlimited-validity individual tickets sold through a partner reseller portal for works councils (CSE), companies, leisure centers, specialized care facilities, and tourism professionals.
• Easter egg hunt (Chasse aux œufs) Ticketed annual Easter event featuring age-segmented egg hunts (children under 11) and treasure hunts (older children), run over an April weekend.
• Twilight visits (Visites au crépuscule) Extended evening openings on Fridays from July 17 to August 21 enabling visitors to observe animal behavior at sunset until 10pm, with a dedicated €15 evening entry ticket from 18h.
• Projets Nature weekend Annual weekend event (August 1-2) showcasing the Projets Nature conservation initiatives supported by the Bioparc alongside partner NGOs such as the Conservatoire d'espaces naturels des Pays de la Loire.
• Career encounters (Rencontres-Métiers) Annual event (September 26) that connects visitors with wildlife, animal care, and nature professionals and the relevant training institutions.
• Nature Race (Course Nature du Bioparc) Annual fundraising race (November 15) with 10km, 15km, and 23km courses, in partnership with Racing Club Douessin Athlétisme. €1 per bib is donated to species conservation (rhinoceros in 2026).
• Animal Fantôme (Autumn invasion) Annual Halloween-themed autumn event (October 17 to November 1) featuring pumpkin decorations and a mystery animal search game for visitors.
• De la Sculpture à la Nature Summer event featuring Nigerien wood and brass sculptures crafted on site, with proceeds supporting the Girafes du Niger Project Nature conservation initiative.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ranked 2nd best zoo in Europe - Diamond Themepark Award 2020
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Nature en OccitanieminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Association created in 1969, coordinating the national action plan for Egyptian vultures since 2018, managing a network of 215+ observers in French Pyrenees.
• HegalaldiamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Wildlife rescue center in Ustaritz, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, recognized nationally for caring for raptors. Bioparc has supported Hegalaldia financially since 2015, helping care for over 2,000 animals annually from 140+ species.
• Bioparc ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Bioparc's own endowment fund created in 2010, allowing individuals and organizations to support conservation projects worldwide. The fund is open for donations and is a key vehicle for the park's commitment to redirect 4% of revenue to conservation associations.
• CEN-PACA (Conservatoire d'Espaces Naturels de Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Regional nature conservatory created in 1975, based in Aix-en-Provence, dedicated to preserving natural heritage in Provence. Supported by Bioparc since 2004, focusing on Egyptian vulture conservation including feeding station maintenance in Saumane-de-Vaucluse.
• Snow Leopard TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001American foundation supported by Bioparc since 2001, working in 12 countries to study and protect snow leopards. Bioparc provided €5,000 in 2025 to help 50 herder families in the Gobi Desert. The foundation uses camera traps and GPS tracking to study snow leopards and helped establish the Tost National Reserve in Mongolia in 2016.
• Fund for Wild Fauna & Flora (FWFF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2001Bulgarian NGO based in Blagoevgrad, working on vulture reintroduction since 2001. Bioparc has donated vultures born at the zoo for reintroduction programs and provided €4,100 in 2025. FWFF works on restoring 4 vulture species, supporting pastoral farmers, and protecting endangered species in Bulgarian mountains.
• CEN - Conservatoire d'espaces naturels des Pays de la LoireminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional nature conservation organization acting to protect and manage natural spaces in the Pays de la Loire region, participating in the Project Nature Weekend events.
• SOS Hérisson 49minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation dedicated to protecting hedgehogs in Maine-et-Loire, rescuing and caring for distressed hedgehogs year-round.
• Upupa AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation working for local biodiversity protection, particularly birds, through field actions and public awareness.
• AmphiRept (Société Herpétologique de Touraine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTouraine herpetological society raising awareness about amphibians and reptiles, often overlooked but essential to ecosystem balance.
• Les Calendriers SolidairesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation creating calendars with Bioparc animal photos to fund conservation projects, raising awareness while providing concrete support.
• Institut Jane GoodallmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational organization dedicated to improving lives of people, animals, and the environment through innovative use of science and technology.
• Cheetah Conservation FundmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization committed to preserving cheetahs through research, conservation, and education, working with local communities to protect their natural habitat.
• Connaître et Protéger le Panda Roux (CPPR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation raising awareness about red panda conservation and raising funds to contribute to their protection in their natural habitat in Nepal.
• Racing Club Douessin AthlétismeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAthletics club organizing the annual Course Nature du Bioparc, a fundraising race for conservation projects. 1€ per bib is donated to species conservation (rhinoceros in 2026, gazelle in 2024).
• Petit à Petit (Publisher)minorOthersPublisher of the Bioparc's first comic book 'Des Animaux et des Hommes', featuring 18 conservation projects, illustrated by 7 artists including Frank Pé.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chester Zoo: UK zoological park with comparable conservation credentials, ethical-zoo positioning, large animal collection, education programmes, and recognized standing among Europe's leading zoos.
• Zoom Torino: Italian zoological park positioned as a mid-sized European conservation-focused zoo with immersive habitats, comparable in scale and ethical-zoo orientation to Bioparc.
• Pairi Daiza: Belgian zoological park widely regarded as one of Europe's top-tier zoos. Comparable in scale of animal collection, conservation orientation, premium lodging on-site, and ability to charge premium European zoo admission.
• Réserve de Beaumarchais: French animal park in central France offering safari-style and walking tours with a similar mix of family visits, schools, and conservation messaging; competes for the same regional French visitor base.
• Zoo de La Flèche: Mid-sized French zoological park in Pays de la Loire with comparable animal collections, family-friendly branding, on-site accommodation and similar GTM motion targeting families, schools and CSE groups.
• Parc Zoologique de Paris (Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle): Renowned Paris zoo operated by the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle with biozone-style enclosures, conservation and education mission directly comparable to Bioparc's pedagogical positioning.
• ZooParc de Beauval: France's most-visited zoo, located in Saint-Aignan (Centre-Val de Loire). Directly comparable as a French zoological park with strong conservation messaging, premium on-site accommodation, restaurants, and family/tourist positioning.
• Artis Royal Zoo: Historic Amsterdam zoo combining a zoological collection with aquarium and planetarium components; comparable European urban/regional zoo with conservation programmes and family education offerings.
• Biotropica: Norman zoological park with a similar mix of immersive animal enclosures, family/school visits and conservation messaging; a closer French regional peer at smaller scale.

Broad incumbents

• Oceanogràfic (Valencia): Largest aquarium in Europe, operated within the City of Arts and Sciences complex. Comparable as a high-traffic European wildlife attraction with strong conservation messaging, though aquatic rather than terrestrial focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Bioparcdedoue
• Instagraminstagram.com/bioparcdedoue
• Xx.com/Bioparcdedoue

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine