Claire Laveau, 60, is fighting to save her animal park in Touron (Dordogne), in financial difficulty. With 260 animals in her care and a debt of 150,000 euros, she hopes for a surge of solidarity to avoid closure.
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A life dedicated to animals. Every morning, Claire Lavault starts her day by greeting her four-legged companions. “Come on, big guy, come on grandpas, here we go!”, she says to her zebus, alpacas and donkeys. For eight years, this enthusiast has lived in the heart of the Touron park, in Campsegret in Dordogne, surrounded by her 260 animals.
It's a lifetime of passion, I couldn't live without animals around me.
Claire LavaultManager of Touron Park
For this sixty-year-old, animals are not only a vocation, but a life project. “My end of life was to live among my animals, and the rest doesn't really matter“, she confides, between two hugs to her residents.
Claire Lavault is the manager of the Parc du Touron in Dordogne and has devoted part of her life to animals.
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© France 3 Périgords
Since September, the commercial court has placed the park under observation for six months. At issue: a debt of 150,000 euros, a direct consequence of two years marked by the pandemic.
“We fell behind on some payments. This year, we had a lot of rain, from October to July, which did not bring our customers“, explains the manager. With only 8,000 to 10,000 visitors per year, the park struggles to find a financial balance. Claire and her team, who have never taken a salary or vacation, are redoubling their efforts to maintain the 'activity.
We never took a vacation, never took a salary and we still want to fight for them.
Claire LavaultManager of Touron Park
Nearly 260 animals are welcomed in the Parc du Touron in Pays de Bergerac.
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© France 3 Périgords
To try to save the park, a friend of Claire launched an online fundraiser. But doubts remain in particular about the future of the animals in the event of closure. “People don't necessarily treat old animals with care. The youngest will be easier to place, but we don't want to give up.“
A prize pool is put online to support the Touron Animal Park.
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© France 3 Périgords
For Claire Lavault, this fight goes beyond the numbers: it is about the survival of a haven of peace that she built with passion. Despite the difficulties, Claire's determination remains intact. “We've been here for eight years and we've never given up. We still want to fight for them.“
The future of the park will depend on the generosity of visitors and animal lovers. A story that reminds us that behind every shelter, there are lives to be preserved.
