Although the silhouette of the Grand Rocher continues to provide the backdrop, this new-generation zoo now has a strong focus on research and conservation rather than just displaying animals in cages and pens. The 1 000 or so animals here, representing 180 species, are divided between five biozones that echo their original natural environments (Patagonia, Sahel-Sudan, Europe, Madagascar and Amazon-Guyana). The zoo now also boasts a large tropical greenhouse and a gigantic aviary, where birds live in semi-liberty.