A replicable project
Share an approach. Respect each place.
Our aim is to develop experience that can be studied and adapted, without reducing protection to a one-size-fits-all formula.
From the Sanctuary’s experience
to new possibilities for protection.
The Pilot Sanctuary is the starting point. We want to turn what we learn into useful knowledge for those who share the same responsibility: design criteria, attention to habitats, continuity of care and documented choices.
This is a direction for our work, not a certification already obtained. We do not offer a franchise, a construction-ready design for every municipality or a network of sites already operating. Every potential new Sanctuary will require its own process.
An approach to share, not a fixed form.
Around ten years of managing the Pilot Sanctuary have taught us that a good project keeps evolving. Replicating it also means sharing the ability to observe, recognise limitations and adapt solutions to environmental conditions and animals’ needs, over time and in different places.
Dialogue with people bringing experience and expertise can enrich this process: we welcome suggestions to assess together, before introducing changes and evaluating the results.
What stays common, what needs to change
The common foundation
Protection comes first.
Non-exploitation, responsibility, privacy and continuity of care are the ethical reference points. Communication and fundraising must respect this purpose.
Local adaptation
Place is not a secondary consideration.
Environmental conditions, land characteristics, the species considered, expertise and management arrangements must be assessed in each setting. Technical solutions cannot be transferred without verification.
Capacity is designed, not assumed.
A site’s total area is not the same as the space available to animals. Before defining capacity, usable habitats must be distinguished from paths, service buildings, cultivated areas and spaces reserved for quarantine or isolation. Animal size and group composition, opportunities for separation, access to resources and continuity of care must be assessed together.
In our diagram, the modules are a proposed layout, not an authorised capacity. We encourage institutions to start from a quality of life that can be sustained over time, rather than deriving an animal count from gross area alone.
What to document in order to improve
A transferable approach must make observations comparable. We propose recording the use of shelters and shaded areas, temperature and humidity conditions, maintenance of water points, separation needs and corrective actions. Operational records may remain confidential; public summaries must exclude location details and personal data.
Routine costs matter too: supplementary food, water, energy, veterinary care, maintenance and people’s time. A completed enclosure is not enough without the ability to look after it every day.
Where can a municipality begin the conversation?
A public body can bring valuable knowledge of its area and local relationships. The first purpose of discussion is to understand whether conditions exist for a coherent project, without treating the mere availability of land as approval.
1. Share intentions
What motivates the proposal? What role does the institution envisage? The first exchange clarifies expectations and alignment with the mission, before requesting drawings or confidential information.
2. Assess the context
Further exploration would consider the environment, species, spaces, protection needs and relevant technical and administrative checks. This requires competent professionals: this page is not an authorisation guide.
3. Plan for continuity
Who will care for the animals? Who will maintain the habitats? What expertise and resources can be available over time? Sustainable management is part of the project, not an afterthought.
4. Decide responsibly
Only after detailed assessments can the competent bodies consider roles, agreements, resources and operational steps. No proposal received is presented as a concluded partnership.
Protecting life, with respect.
Useful documentation for those making an assessment
The aim is to make the Pilot Sanctuary’s choices clear: contextual profiles, habitat criteria, authorised technical documents and updates on activities actually carried out. Each document should indicate its date, revision and status: preliminary, approved or relating to completed works.
You can already view the documentary and images of the Pilot Sanctuary. Technical drawings for the expansion and the works diary will accompany future developments when available. The development pathway distinguishes the Pilot Sanctuary from the land purchased by the founder and the design solutions under study. Public materials must not reveal the location, access points or other sensitive details.
Value for the community, without automatic promises
Knowledge, collaboration and a culture of respect can support protection. Environmental, educational or social outcomes must nevertheless be defined and documented: we do not attribute them to a project before verifying them.
Public education can bring people closer to the Sanctuary’s life without disturbing the animals’ rhythms. Visits are not currently planned: we share content and are designing an audiovisual system for watching selected moments of their daily lives remotely, at designated times and with respect for privacy. Arrangements and timing will be announced when the service is ready.
The place comes first. Sharing follows.
To understand this perspective, begin with the Sanctuary: why it exists, the animals and the habitat design. If you are looking for our broader outlook, you will find the Foundation’s values on the Our Vision page.