Réserve Zoologique de Calviac

What Réserve Zoologique de Calviac does

Réserve Zoologique de Calviac is a non-profit zoological reserve and conservation institution operating as a Société Coopérative d'Intérêt Collectif (SCIC) in Calviac-en-Périgord, Dordogne, France, approximately 10 km from Sarlat. Founded in 2008 by Emmanuel Mouton (a Durrell Academy DESMAN graduate) and restructured as a cooperative in 2015, the reserve sits on a 7-hectare forested site (3.5 hectares open to visitors) protected under the EU Natura 2000 network. It houses approximately 200 animals across 45 endangered species drawn from five geographic zones (Eurasia, Madagascar, South America, Oceania, West Africa), with 50% of species listed on the IUCN Red List. The reserve operates a 2 km shaded trail system and is supported by a year-round team of approximately 9 permanent staff plus seasonal and civic-service workers.

The core product is the visitor experience itself, augmented by educational talks, feeding demonstrations, and premium experiential offerings (Zookeeper for a Day at €200–€380, Privilege Visit at €175–€380, and the children's Graines de Soigneur program at €150–€400). Revenue is generated across multiple streams: dated and undated admission tickets (€10.50–€17.90), annual subscriptions (€36 adult / €24 child), animal sponsorships (15 ambassador species, recurring annual), group rates for schools and works councils, corporate seminar room rental (up to 50 people), donations via HelloAsso and the Lilo solidarity search engine, and on-site retail and food services. The reserve is a member of EAZA, participates in approximately 30 European Endangered Species Programmes (EEPs), and operates seven field conservation programs across France, Madagascar, Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Nepal in partnership with AEECL, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Red Panda Network, the Lion Tamarin of Brazil Fund, the Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative, and the Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques. The reserve is currently temporarily closed due to storm damage.

Name

Réserve Zoologique de Calviac

Legal name

Réserve Zoologique de Calviac

Website

https://reserve-calviac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Réserve Zoologique de Calviac is a non-profit SCIC zoological reserve in Dordogne, France, housing nearly 200 animals across 45 endangered species, funded by ticket sales, premium experiences, sponsorships, and donations to support EAZA breeding programs and field conservation in five countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Zoological Park & Wildlife Conservation Services

NAICS

Zoos and Botanical Gardens (71213), Zoos and Botanical Gardens (712130), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Parks & Private Nature Reserves (Visitor Operations) (THAAAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wildlife Conservation & Species Protection (BPAGAGAB), Wildlife Rescue, Rehabilitation & Release (BPAGAIAC), Wildlife Rehabilitation & Release Centers (Public Viewing/Education) (THAAAFAC)

Keywords

• Zoological reserve
• Wildlife conservation
• Endangered species breeding
• Ecotourism experiences
• Educational wildlife programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Calviac-en-Périgord

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Entry fees from individual and group visitors. Prices range from €10.50-17.90 depending on ticket type (dated vs undated) and age category. Subscription passes available at €36-48 for unlimited annual visits.
2. Animal Sponsorship (Parrainage): Annual sponsorship program where individuals sponsor specific animals. Sponsors receive entrance tickets, digital portraits, name plaques on enclosures, and twice-yearly updates on their godchild's life at the reserve. 15 ambassador species available for sponsorship.
3. Premium Experiences: Fee-based privileged experiences including 'Zookeeper for a Day' (€200-380 for 2-4 people), 'Privilege Visit' (€175-380), and 'Graines de Soigneur' children's program (€150-400). All experience fees support reserve operations and conservation.
4. Donations and Sponsorship: Individual donations via HelloAsso platform and postal mail. Corporate sponsorship opportunities with tax deduction benefits (up to 60% of donation within 5‰ of turnover). Donors support specific conservation programs including European mink protection via Lilo search engine donations.
5. On-site Retail and Food Services: Coffee shop operating year-round with hot/cold drinks and biscuits. Summer snack bar with salads, artisanal dishes, chips, cakes. Food truck present on Easter weekend through August. Gift shop offering stuffed animals, books, birdhouses, games, and souvenirs. Honey from educational hive sold in store.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Réserve Zoologique de Calviac operates a 2 km immersive wildlife trail through 3.5 hectares of forested Natura 2000-protected land in Dordogne, France, housing nearly 200 animals representing 45 endangered species from Eurasia, Madagascar, South America, Oceania, and West Africa. The core product is the self-guided reserve visit supplemented by daily keeper talks, feeding demonstrations, premium behind-the-scenes experiences, and an annual animal sponsorship program. All proceeds fund ex-situ European breeding programmes (EEP) and 7 in-situ field conservation projects across five countries.

Product overview

Réserve Zoologique de Calviac operates as an immersive zoological reserve and non-profit conservation institution (SCIC) located in Dordogne, France. The core offering is the reserve visit itself, featuring nearly 200 animals across 45 endangered species organized in five geographic zones. The portfolio includes paid add-on experiences: Zookeeper for a Day, Privilege Visit, and Zookeeper Seeds (children's program) for hands-on engagement; plus animal sponsorship, seminar rental, and standard ticketing/subscriptions. The experiences are designed to fund the reserve's conservation mission, with proceeds supporting ex-situ breeding programs (EEP) and in-situ field conservation across seven countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Zoo Visit at the Réserve Zoologique de Calviac Self-guided immersive wildlife reserve experience featuring nearly 200 animals across 45 endangered species from five geographic zones (Eurasia, Madagascar, South America, Oceania, West Africa), accessible via 2 km of shaded trails in Dordogne, France. Includes daily keeper talks and feeding demonstrations. Designed for individual visitors, families, school groups, and corporate groups seeking an educational and conservation-focused wildlife experience.
• Zookeeper for a Day (Soigneur d'un Jour)

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% of 45 species on IUCN Red List
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe reserve participates in EAZA network collaboration, being involved in European breeding programs (EEP) for endangered species. EAZA coordinates approximately 400 breeding programs across member institutions, providing genetic and demographic management for captive populations. The reserve is implicated in 30 EEP programs and coordinates species committees.
• AEECL (Association Européenne pour l'Étude et la Conservation des Lémuriens)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation focused on lemur conservation in Sahamalaza-Iles Radama National Park, Madagascar. Emmanuel Mouton serves as secretary. The reserve supported creation of the protected area in 2007. Programs include education, reforestation, community development, and lemur population monitoring.
• Durrell Wildlife Conservation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJersey-based conservation organization specializing in island species. Partnership focuses on Madagascar conservation including Alaotra Lake bamboo lemur (Hapalemur alaotrensis) and Madagascar pochard (Aythya innotata) breeding and reintroduction programs.
• Red Panda NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational NGO working on red panda conservation in Nepal. The reserve participates in the 'Forest Guardian' program initiated by the European breeding program (EEP), supporting trained villagers to monitor and protect red panda habitats and populations.
• Lion Tamarin of Brazil Fund (LTBF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFund established in 1992 to raise funds for golden lion tamarin conservation. Works with Associação Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD) in Brazil. Programs include forest corridor creation, population monitoring, reintroduction, community development, and education. Over 500 individuals reintroduced since 1984.
• Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative (LTCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInitiative under Institute of Ecological Research (IPE) led by Patricia Medici. Focuses on South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris) research and conservation across four Brazilian biomes. Reserve supports annual financing of 5 radio collars for wild tapirs.
• Centre Suisse de Recherches Scientifiques (CSRS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss research center established in Côte d'Ivoire since 1951. Partnership focuses on pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) conservation in Taï National Park. Programs include ecological corridor creation, zoological/botanical studies, community sensitization, and local development support.
• Plan National d'Actions Vison d'EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational action plan for European mink (Mustela lutreola) conservation in France. Reserve collaborates with DREAL Nouvelle-Aquitaine and OFB (French Biodiversity Office). Activities include breeding center development, public awareness, reintroduction preparation, and participation in European training programs.
• 360 SpeciesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization promoting biodiversity conservation awareness.
• IFCOP (Institut de la Francophonie pour l'Environnement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrancophone institute for environment supporting conservation education and initiatives.
• mundo teraminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvisory organization providing guidance to the reserve on conservation matters.
• Accrobranche IFeelWoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal adventure park partner offering discount to reserve visitors. Located near Calviac-en-Périgord.
• Eyrignac ManoirminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal heritage site partner offering discount to reserve visitors in Dordogne region.
• Natura 2000coreOthersEuropean Union conservation network protecting limestone hillsides of the Dordogne valley where the reserve is located.
• DREAL Nouvelle-AquitainecoreOthersRegional directorate for environment, planning, and housing of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Partners on European mink conservation and regulatory compliance.
• Office Français de la Biodiversité (OFB)coreOthersFrench Biodiversity Office collaborating on European mink conservation, species monitoring, and departmental reference for conservation breeding programs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine: French zoological park with a conservation-first mission and similar mid-sized scale; directly comparable because Anna Rozzi, current Education Manager at Calviac, spent 12 years here as a primate zookeeper and the park shares the French regional-zoo + EAZA member positioning.
• Zoo de La Flèche: Privately operated French zoological park with comparable scale, EAZA participation, and a mix of visitor experience + conservation messaging; relevant because Romain Dieudé's herbivore/carnivore experience was at La Flèche and the operational/scale profile closely mirrors Calviac.
• Zoo de Bordeaux-Pessac: Mid-sized French regional zoo and EAZA member with a focus on captive species management; directly comparable as it is the prior employer of multiple current Calviac zookeepers (Romain Dieudé's colleague network) and operates in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, the same as Calviac.

Broad incumbents

• Pairi Daiza: Major Belgian zoological park with deep EAZA engagement and conservation programs across multiple geographic zones; comparable as a broad incumbent offering similar visitor + conservation integration but at substantially greater scale.
• Chester Zoo: Major UK zoological charity and EAZA member running extensive ex-situ and in-situ conservation programs including field conservation partnerships; relevant as a broad incumbent comparator for combining large visitor volumes, EEP participation, and international conservation funding mechanics.
• ZooParc de Beauval: France's largest zoological park and a flagship EAZA member with conservation programs; comparable as a broad incumbent covering the same product category (visitor zoological park) and conservation mission, but at materially greater scale and brand recognition than Calviac.
• Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes: Historic French zoological institution within the National Museum of Natural History, where founder Emmanuel Mouton previously worked; comparable as a French broad-incumbent zoological institution with conservation and educational programming aligned to Calviac's mission.

Others

• Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust: Jersey-based conservation organization (former employer-influence via the Durrell Academy DESMAN program that trained founder Emmanuel Mouton) and explicit partner on Madagascar conservation; not a direct competitor but a closely comparable model combining ex-situ breeding, reintroduction, and field conservation that Calviac emulates at smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/reservezoologiquedecalviac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Réserve Zoologique de Calviac