Saint-Félicien Wildlife Zoo

Founded in 1960 at the initiative of Ghislain Gagnon, the Zoo sauvage de Saint-Félicien has established itself as a leading reference in boreal biodiversity conservation, now managed by the Centre de conservation de la biodiversité boréale (CCBB). Unlike traditional zoos, this facility exclusively presents species from boreal and cold regions around the globe—caribou, bison, Canadian lynx, cougars, wolves, polar bears and grizzlies from North America, as well as Amur tigers and Japanese macaques from Asia, or Bactrian camels and domestic yaks from Mongolia—spread across 485 hectares designed to faithfully recreate their respective natural habitats. The zoo's signature experience remains a train ride through the Parc des sentiers de nature, where visitors journey for approximately one hour through outdoor enclosures alongside semi-free roaming wildlife, while also discovering various sites evoking Quebec's history and culture, including a historic logging camp, settler's farm, and trading post. A network of 4.5 km of hiking trails complements the offering for visitors preferring ground exploration. Internationally recognized for its contributions to research and education on northern ecosystems, the zoo celebrated its 65th anniversary in July 2025 and remains one of Quebec's most visited wildlife attractions, accessible year-round through programming adapted to all four seasons.