The Phoenix Park has been around since 1990. Managed and funded by the City of Nice, it is regularly presented by the municipality as a "sanctuary" for animals. A term that, for the PAZ association (Animal Project Zoopolis), is precisely at the heart of the problem. Because a sanctuary doesn’t look like that!
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A true sanctuary, by animal welfare standards, is a place that prioritizes the interests of animals above all else: large enclosures, multiple hiding places, very limited visitor access, no organized breeding, no exchanges with other zoos. At Parc Phoenix, the reality is different. The animals live in enclosures that meet the typical standards of a zoo, welcome visitors every day, and some specimens come from exchanges with other facilities (like the zoo in Besançon, the zoo in Upie, the zoo in Lille, etc.). Legally, everything is perfectly fine. Ethically, that's where the debate begins!
A petition that already has over 22,000 signatures
The petition launched on February 19 by the PAZ calls for the transformation of Parc Phoenix, in other words, the end of its…nction zoo and the transfer of animals to facilities better suited to their needs. Its rapid success is a testament to the growing awareness of the public on these issues. Associations, activists, and politicians rallied in the weeks that followed, giving this local issue a resonance that far exceeds the borders of the Alpes-Maritimes.
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The City of Nice hasn't officially shared its plans yet. The site isn’t illegal, and there's nothing that compels the municipality to take action. But the pressure is building, and one question comes to mind: is it still the role of a public entity to fund the housing of wild animals in an urban park? The answer, it seems, will soon become clear!