In Monaco, animal welfare has been a priority for more than a century, from the SPA shelter to international competitions.
Monaco’s Zoological Gardens owe their creation to Prince Rainier III’s keen interest in the animal kingdom. The Sovereign founded the zoo in 1954 after returning from a cruise in Africa, where he had rescued numerous animals in distress. “For four months, the prince brought back animals that had been injured or abandoned. There were 35 animals on board and he had affectionately dubbed the boat ‘his’ Noah’s Ark,” explained the zoo’s director Laurent Peyronel in an interview with Monaco-Matin.