Family zoo in France
Zoo keeper Franck Roulon feeds Indian elephants at the family-owned Palmyre Zoo in the 44-acre pine forest of Les Mathes, in the Charente Maritime region, western France, Nov. 20, 2013.
The private zoo which opened in 1966 greets up to 800,000 visitors a year and is home to around 1,700 animals of 170 different species.
Zoo keepers annually nourish the animals with 250 tons of fodder, 50 tons of meat, 20 tons of fish, 180 tons of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Two full-time veterinarians are in charge of the health and well-being of the animals. The Palmyre Zoo participates in 40 European breeding programs and provides funding for the conservation of endangered species.