Paris, a city celebrated for its architecture and art, also hosts a complex and often-overlooked ecosystem. This dense metropolitan environment supports a diverse array of fauna that has adapted remarkably to the urban landscape. The city’s animals range from the highly visible birds and rodents that inhabit the immediate streets to the more elusive creatures that find refuge in its expansive parks and the revitalized aquatic life of its central waterway.
The Everyday Urban Wildlife
The most pervasive animal inhabitants in the city are those that have mastered coexisting in the human-dominated urban core. The brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) represents one of the largest populations, with estimates suggesting between three and six million individuals, potentially outnumbering the city’s human population. The vast majority of these rodents live a subterranean existence, thriving in the extensive network of sewers, cellars, and metro tunnels that provide consistent shelter, warmth, and food sources. They are opportunistic scavengers.
Above ground, the rock pigeon (Columba livia) is the most commonly encountered bird due to its scavenging habits and high population density. These birds utilize the tall buildings as proxies for their natural cliff habitats for nesting and roosting. The common house sparrow also thrives in the immediate urban environment, utilizing small crevices in buildings and feeding on crumbs and seeds.
A variety of arthropods and insects also populate the city’s immediate surroundings. These invertebrates, while often unseen, play a fundamental role in decomposition and the urban food web. Species like the European paper wasp and various common garden spiders find niches in outdoor café terraces, window boxes, and the small green spaces between buildings.
Fauna of Parks and the Seine River
The large, managed green spaces like the Bois de Boulogne and the Bois de Vincennes function as refuges for species requiring more extensive habitat than small city squares. These former royal hunting grounds are home to small mammals such as the European hedgehog, which forages for insects and slugs in the undergrowth. The red fox has also established a presence, particularly in the larger outer parks, adapting to hunt rodents and scavenge urban waste.
The parks’ many lakes and ponds provide a habitat for a large number of waterfowl, including mute swans, mallard ducks, and various geese. Bird diversity extends beyond the water, with species like the Great Spotted Woodpecker and the Eurasian Kestrel being observed. The kestrel often nests on tall buildings and preys on the abundant pigeons.
The Seine River has undergone a significant ecological transformation, with water quality improvements leading to a resurgence in aquatic life. Where only three fish species were recorded in the 1970s, nearly 40 different species now inhabit the river. Hardy species like roach, carp, and bream are prevalent. The cleaner water has also allowed for the return of more sensitive fish, including European eel and the occasional Atlantic salmon.
Paris’s Curated Animal Collections
Beyond the wild fauna, Paris maintains several institutions dedicated to the study and exhibition of exotic animal collections. The Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, one of the oldest public zoos in the world, was founded in 1794 and focuses on conservation and education. This historic zoo houses approximately 600 animals representing 189 species, including Bornean orangutans, Tasmanian devils, and rare tree kangaroos.
The Aquarium de Paris, situated near the Eiffel Tower, offers an extensive look into marine life, containing over 10,000 fish and invertebrates. The facility’s collections feature a large shark tank, which holds up to 50 individual sharks, and one of Europe’s most significant collections of jellyfish. Visitors can interact with a variety of species, including koi carp, in a dedicated touch pool area.