Zoo des Trois Vallées: a critical situation after the administrative closure

The Trois Vallées zoo, opened in 2013 in Montredon-Labessonié (Tarn), had to close its doors to visitors in 2021 after the escape of nine wolves and the slaughter of four of them. The shortcomings noted by the Tarn prefecture (more than a hundred), both in relation to safety and animal welfare, pushed it to order the administrative closure of the park in September 2025.

The prefectural decree provided for the transfer of the animals to other French establishments. In 2025, there remained more than 230 animals, the majority of which were “captive wild fauna”: felines, primates, ostriches, etc. Around 60 animals were to be placed before the end of September 2025. But for the others, it is a long wait that never ends.

In January 2026, several monkeys - capuchins - took off and reached the neighboring village. Stunned by the arrival of these primates, who passed from roof to roof above homes or ran through gardens, residents had to adapt. A resident then confided to France Bleu: “As long as it’s just monkeys… The day it’s lions, it will bother me more.” The monkeys were not the first to escape the English way, since lynxes, antelopes and ostriches managed to cross the barriers which are not up to standard.

Although the site is completely abandoned and has the appearance of an open-air dump, the remaining 150 animals still receive visits from keepers, financed by the zoo operator. They make rounds around the park to ward off curious people or unconscious intruders who try to free the animals. Apart from providing food, the animals live isolated and the conditions for their well-being are no longer assured. No more veterinarians to take care of the animals.

TF1 recently produced a report showing images of emus and camels wandering freely in front of the zoo's reception buildings. Zebras, lions and tigers live among piles of trash.

An influencer entered the wolves' enclosure, and someone sawed off the bars of the lions' cage. Several fences are not up to standard. Warnings which are becoming more and more serious and which could lead to tragedy. The prefecture wants all the animals to be transferred by the end of the year, but these placements take a long time.