Tuesday July 21, Sam, Nanasse, Pauline and I leave for Rocamadour.
The sun is very present and the heat with (but it remains bearable). On the other hand, with masks, it's much more complicated when it comes to heat.
We start the day with Le rocher des aigles. We are riding on the field because the performance is starting. The vultures have already taken off, we can already
see only small black dots high in the sky. Except one, who takes his time to fly away.
But we arrive for the departure of the eagles and bald eagles and a milan.
Then it is the turn of the parrots and macaws to take flight.
Then, once the performance is over, we take a leisurely walk around the various birdhouses. Some striking a pose, lazing around or practicing making faces.
An owl watches for visitors hidden behind a log.
As the mealtime approaches, we decide to return to this famous restaurant which is nearby: Le Roc du berger!
Foie gras salad, duck leg confit or meunière trout, soft chocolate and a little Tariquet to accompany it all !
A small digestive stop for photos of Rocamadour.
Then direction Gramat and its animal park. We lose our way on the way and find ourselves at the bottom of Rocamadour. A laborious U-turn and here we are on the right road.
The park is quite large and we will be walking a lot. With the digestion, the heat, the mask, the photo equipment, it will be sport !
The park, located in the Causses du Quercy Regional Natural Park, covers 40 hectares including various types of environments so that the animals feel their best. Managed
since 1976 by the association for the study and protection of the fauna and flora of the Causses, the park opened its doors to the public in 1980. It allows you to see
animal and plant species from the region, but also older animals. The park also houses the European Conservatory of primitive species of domestic animals.
But the park is not just for conservation or learning, but also for preservation. The park preserves several species and also protects other species which are endangered
and which are reintroduced thanks to the park.
The beginning of the park has magnificent European wolves (from here). There is also a recent new litter: 4 small wolf cubs are visible !
Right next to us we have the goats posing.
Then there are the small ponds for ducks and other water birds.
Further on, we have snoring foxes perched in the trees.
Shortly after, there is a large aviary which we enter. There are ibises, storks, white peacocks that roll around in the earth.
Attached is the reindeer enclosure, there is one who takes his walk for the day by going around his enclosure several times (you have to wait a long time before seeing it complete a tour).
Then we have several enclosures in a row: demonic goats from Shub-Niggurat
Badgers
Wild cats from Causse (the ancestor of our cats from here)
Raccoons who have decided to imitate foxes and take a nap in the branches.
Right after, here we are with pigs and cattle: black pigs (with a sow and 4 piglets).
In the large parks just after, we have long-horned buffaloes (and a bench with a kind of small shower in mist, which we take advantage of because fatigue begins to be felt).
Further a llama
and European bison (beautiful cattle!).
We start to think about the way back for the visit, we start to be pressed for time. There are deer lying on the ground which are very well camouflaged.
People are starting to move towards the exit, it is already almost 5pm !
We are heading towards the bear pit to see them, it seems that there have been little ones recently !
We go down to see them, their place is rather large. And indeed, we see 3 cubs playing beside the water while their mother watches them.
Directing us towards the exit (we still had a third of the park to see, but we will not have time, the water is scarce and a migraine falling on me, it becomes
complicated), we say hello to the pelicans .
End of the day, we drink a drink back to the car, and take the road home. Sleep is not far away, the walking and the sightseeing of the day will have tired us very much. Tonight, it's sleepy time !