•Written by Edward Girardet• ••Thursday•, 04 •December• 2008 01:23•
The Lake Geneva and Rhone-Alpes region boasts a score of animal centres, some worthy, others less worthy, for both young and old. The Essential Edge will highlight a number of these in the months ahead. The Parc d’Accueil Pierre Challandes in Bellevue on the outskirts of Geneva was founded in 1989 by former Swiss journalist Pierre Challandes in the grounds of a large Lake Geneva villa. It is not really a zoo but more a refuge supported by private donations for abandoned, injured or sick animals, or ones confiscated by customs or whose owners can no longer handle them. These range from endangered long-legged maned wolves from South America, Greek Hermann tortoises, feral raccoons, and hawks to a mountain lion and, the latest addition, a four-month-old snow leopard born in a small zoo outside Zurich! Some, notably Swiss or European species, are eventually introduced back into the wild, but for many the park remains their only option for survival.
Open to the public mornings only – except for their annual open day weekend – or by rendezvous - the park houses a variety of species, such as lynx, serval, monkeys, pheasant, ducks, wild boar, ferrets, stoats, squirrels, raccoon dogs from Russia, fox, owls, wallabies… Many were brought here injured or as abandoned orphans and are now too reliant on Man to be set free. For example, there is a steady stream of hedgehogs during the spring and summer months, mainly wounded by cars while crossing roads, or lacerated by lawn mowers or electric scythes.
One wonders, though, how some of them arrived here. I mean, who keeps a puma in their apartment? Or what about the two parrots originally dropped off by the police after their owner was sentenced to 15 years in prison? Dejected, they lost their feathers. The animals are kept in a series of modest but well-planted enclosures and aviaries. Perhaps not the ideal size for long-term habitation, but Challandes and his team, including Martine, his recently deceased wife and companion of 47 years, have performed wonders over the years with limited means to ensure that the animals get to live in respectable surroundings.
Most people passing along the back roads through Bellevue on their way to work in the morning are not aware of this exception little animal park tucked away behind a thick alley of oak trees. The traffic circle in front has a series of wood-carved animal sculptures, and there is sign on the right depicting one of the long-legged wolfes. For ages, I always wondered what the centre was before finally deciding to have a look.
That’s how I first met Challandes, who welcomed me warmly. A dedicated man passionate about wildlife, he took ten minutes to show me around and to explain the purpose of the park. Challandes also edits the association’s magazine, A L’Ecoute des Animaux, plus writes his own somewhat lyrical blogs on the Association’s site. He clearly has a vision that is not restricted to this little haven of wildlife in the wooded suburbs of Geneva, but the environment as a whole. “We all have a responsibility to help, to contribute to the well-being of our planet. That is why we need to be involved,” he likes to explain. “What we are doing here with these animals is just a drop against the disaster that our civilization, our technology and our overpopulation is imposing on our planet earth.”
Nowadays, the Challandes park is a regular feature in our lives, whenever my children have nothing particular to do, or it is a beautiful weekend morning. My eight-year-old son likes to wonder between the cages, eyeing or talking to the animals. Normally, Challandes prefers to come out and personally accompany visitors, who do not know the park, particularly through the long aviary corridor because of the arctic owls, which, if distressed, might attack. One wonders how he finds the time, but he genuinely seems to enjoy showing off the park. He also seems to love the animals, talking to each of them entering the cage to tickle a fox or give a titbit to a bird. But, if he knows you, and is aware that you are acquainted with the routine of being careful, he’ll let you go in on your own.
The Association currently has about 3,300 members, whose contributions of 30 CHF a year help keep the park going. Barely. The subscription includes four copies of the magazine. Challandes is constantly in search of funds to expand his outdoor facilities, make the enclosures larger and ensure that his wards have a comfortable place to live. To help support the park, it also operates a boarding centre for cats.
Challandes relies on his small army of volunteers to feed the animals, clean the cages and enclosures, and collect donated foodstuffs. One of our nephews, a 16-year-old American interested in animals, worked mornings during the summer holidays both to help and improve his French. It’s a worthwhile experience for young people, but Challandes likes them to be serious. And the park can certainly use the help.
Parc d’Acceuil Pierre Challandes
33, Route de Valavran
1293 Bellevue, GE
Switzerland
Open daily 9h30 to 12h00 Or telephone for a renedezvous 022-774 3808
Contact: •This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it•
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