Behind the scenes at LE ROCHER DES AIGLES
“Here, you’re in the birds’ territory”
Texts: Dominique Maylin
Images: Audrey Maylin
History: key dates
1977 : Founding of Le Rocher des Aigles under the 1901 French law on Associations.
Aims: to raise public awareness of the need to protect raptors through free-flight bird of prey displays, the proceeds of which would finance both the breeding facilities and the monitoring of the Peregrine falcon nesting sites in the department of Lot which were being intensively plundered.
1986 : Creation of a care centre for injured birds where they were treated and rehabilitated for flying so that they could then be released back into the wild under the supervision of the ONCFS (French National Hunting and Wildlife Agency). It was closed down at the end of 2013.
1987 : The ANPZ General Assembly was held at Rocamadour
1989 : Le Rocher des Aigles became a LLC in 1989.
35 species of diurnal and nocturnal raptors bred at the centre, that is 1,500 chicks.
1993 :
Construction of a laboratory, a breeding room displaying the young birds to the public, a reception area, a video room and function accommodation with a conference room.
Midi-Pyrénées Tourism Award for “Best Tourism and Environment product”
1995 : Gold Tourism Award
1997 : Commitment to the protection of the tropical forest and wildlife. Forest plot bought at Nanciyaga on the shores of Lake Catemaco, State of Veracruz, Mexico.
Birth of our first Golden Eagle
2000 : Acquisition of parrots
2003 : Free-flight display – the first in France – of Parrots (Macaws, Cockatoos, African Greys, Amazons). Aim: to raise visitor awareness of the disappearance of their habitat (deforestation)
2006 : Shooting of the film “La légende de Clara” (Clara’s Legend)
2007 : Creation of nocturnal raptor show (Snowy Owl, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Great Horned Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Long-eared Owl, Eurasian Scops Owl, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Little Owl)
2012 : “International Falconery Days” introduced at Le Rocher des Aigles
2013 : - A second generation Andean Condor bred for the first time at Rocamadour.
- Release of the film “L’Aigle et le Cactus” (The Eagle and the Cactus), directed by Jean-Roch Meslin and produced by Eliocom. “This film tells the story of a friendship born from a love of nature and extending into an astonishing project, to say the least. Between South-West France and Mexico, this process initiated by Raphaël Arnaud will transport us thousands of kilometres away, to another world almost, yet one whose issues are very close to our own.”
