Aquarium’s History

1931: Creation of the Tropical Aquarium to coincide with the Colonial Exposition

The Tropical Aquarium was set up in the Palais de la Porte Dorée, designed by the architect Albert Laprade, on the occasion of the 1931 Colonial Exposition.

The exhibition commissioner, Maréchal Lyautey, wanted to provide residents of metropolitan France with a lasting display of the diversity of aquatic fauna in the country’s colonies.

During the year 1934, the pit in the middle of the Aquarium was developed like one of Albert Laprade’s own decors, with the help of a sculptor. Ornamental pools and fake rocks were used to create a “bush corner” inhabited by crocodiles, turtles, monkeys and African birds. Science and entertainment were skilfully interwoven, under the aegis of the Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle. The establishment consisted in a marine aquarium, a freshwater aquarium and a terrarium for keeping reptiles, along with a “product gallery” exhibiting the industrial exploitation of certain species  (tortoiseshell, crocodile skins, corals…). The project was very ambitious: lavish decors, tanks with painted bottoms and glass mirrors of a size hitherto unseen… Implementing it proved fairly complex: the work was delayed and continued after the site had been inaugurated, but the Aquarium was one of the highlights of the show.

1939 to 1984: Difficult years

While great attention was paid to the Aquarium from 1934 to 1938, World War 2 was a disaster for the establishment: mobilisation of staff, frequent power cuts, water heating shut off, no tank maintenance, food shortages… Following this dark period, new specimens arrived at the Aquarium, brought back by colonial administrators, among others. The most celebrated among them were the adult Nile crocodiles who arrived in 1948, thanks to Professor Théodore Monod, a renowned scientist who was director of the Institut Français d’Afrique Noire at the time. The last crocodile from the original group lived until 2010.

In 1960, the future of the Tropical Aquarium tropical was uncertain, relations with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs under André Malraux were not easy. Its success nevertheless allowed it to keep going, with visitors flocking to the gates of the Palais. After a period of stagnation, a new era began in 1968 that sounded the death knell for the economic and utilitarian colonial outlook. The dioramas presenting the use of colonial waters were taken down and replaced by new aquariums, on either side of the turtle terrarium. A “neutral” presentation was adopted based on geographic and aesthetic criteria. However, despite this major change in orientation, the decline continued, through a lack of resources and involvement. To the extent that in 1984, there was really no choice left: should the Aquarium be closed or should major renovation work be undertaken?

1984: A new youth

Under the impetus of Michel Hignette, the renovation of the Aquarium was launched. The work has been staggered since then, implemented gradually but without closing the establishment. The main goal initially was to improve the animals’ living conditions, without affecting the historical value of the place, a large part of which dates from 1931. A bigger tank was installed instead of the three old ones, while the original large windows were kept: thereby greatly increasing the living space for the fish. The aim was also to improve water quality. New filters, tested on-site, enabled invertebrates (shrimp, coral…) to be displayed in an artificial seawater aquarium, which was something brand new. The gradual control over water quality and realisation of the educational value of an aquarium had a deep impact on the place. A real selection of species could happen. Each tank is now designed with the Aquarium’s general and educational organisation in mind.

The Tropical Aquarium today

The collection counts around 4,400 animals and 350 species, although these figures vary constantly depending on breeding, mortality, exchanges with other public aquariums, purchases and donations.

At present, the 84 tanks show visitors the variety of tropical marine and freshwater aquatic species. The Aquarium plays an awareness-raising role in relation to its audience with the goal of sensitising them to the beauty, wealth, fragility and necessary protection of these natural environments.