View photos: Rare animals at world's second oldest zoo in Paris

On 1793 today, the Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes opened in Paris, France. Belonging to the botanical garden Jardin des Plantes, it houses rare smaller and medium-sized mammals and a variety of birds and reptiles.

A woman takes a picture of a North Chinese leopard on August 16, 2015 at the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris. AFP PHOTO

An Alpaca is pictured on August 16, 2015 at the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris. AFP PHOTO

A corsac fox is pictured on August 16, 2015 at the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris. AFP PHOTO

A snow leopard is pictured on August 16, 2015 at the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris. AFP PHOTO

Bharals are pictured at the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris. AFP PHOTO

It's considered the world's second oldest zoological garden.

A woman looks at a Rhinoceros Iguana at the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris. AFP PHOTO

According to a decision of the National Assembly in 1793, exotic animals in private hands were to be donated to the Menagerie in Versailles or killed, stuffed and donated to the natural scientists of the Jardin des Plantes.

A Nile crocodile is pictured in the vivarium, at the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris. AFP PHOTO

An Aldabra giant tortoise is pictured at the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes botanical garden in Paris. AFP PHOTO

The Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes was free for all visitors and tourists right from its inception. It grew in the first three decades of the 19th century to be the largest exotic animal collection in Europe. Animals like the North-Chinese leopard, Alpaga, Snow Leopard, Corsac Fox, Bharals, reptiles like the Rhinocerus Iguana, Aldabra giant tortoise, Nile crocodile and other species are attractions at the zoo.