A critter friendly capital

Animals have their place in the French capital too. 1,475 unobtrusive wild animal species share the city with Paris residents: crayfish, pike, hedgehogs, lizards, dragonflies, tawny owls etc... In the Bois de Vincennes, there's a real farm, with calves, cows, pigs, sheep, goats and chickens, open all year round. Two ornithological reserves in the woods of Paris are also open to people interested in observing protected bird species.
La ferme de Paris bois de Vincennes route du Pesage, Paris 12th.
Bois de Vincennes ornithological reserve, allée Royale, Paris 12th.
Bois de Boulogne ornithological reserve, carrefour de Longchamp route piétonne de la Grande-Cascade, Paris 16th.

Man's best friend.

Paris has a dog population of 150,000, while over 500 cats roam free in the city's cemeteries and green spaces. The Salon de l'Agriculture, is a popular agricultural show held in March. It features 3,000 animals and draws more than 500,000 visitors every year.
Paris-Expo porte de Versailles, Paris 15th.

Angling in Paris

The French capital is criss-crossed by a network of canals, which are well-stocked with fish! The Canal Saint-Martin contains a profusion of pikeperch, some more than a metre long, as well as siluroids and some perch. In the Bassin de la Villette, the carp population is thriving, to the delight of Sunday fishermen.
Canal Saint-Martin, Paris 10th.
Bassin de la Villette, Paris 19th.

Horse-riding

Historically, Paris is an equestrian city. The clatter of horseshoes long resounded through the streets of the capital, a fact reflected in many of the city's statues. These days, equestrian possibilities include pony rides, for the younger ones, and horses in Paris parks.
Bois de Vincennes equestrian centre, Paris 12th.
Bois de Boulogne equestrian centre, route de la Muette, Paris 16th.

Dog attitude

Man's best friend is welcome in Paris. The city numbers 150,000 dogs and showers them with attention: our canine companions can have their portraits painted at the Atelier du Génie gallery, crunch biscuits in their preferred flavor, available on order at the Mon Bon Chien bakery, or take a seat on their own Marie-Antoinette armchair at Les Cadors.
Warf et Miaou 14 av de l'Opéra, Paris 1st.
Les Cadors 11 rue Princesse, Paris 6th.
Atelier du Génie 28 passage du Génie, Paris 12th.
Mon bon chien 12 rue Mademoiselle, Paris 15th.

Paris zoos

Always a popular choice for kids and grown-ups alike, zoos are sure to fascinate visitors. The Parc zoologique de Paris, one of the most renowned zoos in France, is situated in a wooded park of 15 hectares, within the Bois de Vincennes. An excursion to a real change of scene, it offers close encounters with some 600 animals. As for the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes, it is simply the oldest zoo in the world.
Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes 57 rue Cuvier, Paris 5th.
Parc zoologique de Paris 53 av de Saint-Maurice, Paris 12th.

Aquariums

The legendary aquarium at the Palais de la porte Dorée and its huge collection of tropical fish has been a major draw for the past forty years: it attracts nearly 260,000 visitors each year. The Aquarium du Trocadéro has gone through a complete makeover and reopened as CinéAqua, a new audiovisual aquarium concept: the discovery of various species of fish in immense tanks is enlivened by screenings of multimedia cartoon strips all along the visit.
Palais de la porte Dorée - Aquarium tropical 293 av Daumesnil, Paris 12th.
CinéAqua 2 av des Nations-Unies, Paris 16th.