06.11.2026

APRR supports Centre Athénas, which takes in and cares for wild animals

On Friday 6 November, Centre Athénas opened a new infirmary dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of wild animals, with the support of APRR. This facility enables the charity to double its care space in order to better meet the growing needs for wildlife care. This project reinforces a long-standing shared commitment to the conservation of biodiversity.
 


 

Faced with an increase in the number of animals taken in following collisions with vehicles, the Athénas Centre, based in L’Étoile in the Jura, is now expanding its care capacity with a new 131 m² infirmary. This space comprises a treatment room, a nursery, a convalescence room and offices. It will provide the teams with better facilities for treating and caring for the animals until they are fully rehabilitated.

Every year, Centre Athénas takes in more than 7,000 wild animals, mainly birds and mammals, representing some 250 different species. As the only organisation in France specialising in the rescue of the Eurasian lynx, Centre Athénas also plays a vital role in the conservation of this particularly vulnerable species.


APRR-AREA and Centre Athénas: ten years of working together to promote biodiversity


This inauguration marks the culmination of a partnership initiated in 2017 between APRR-AREA and Centre Athénas. This collaboration is built around a shared objective: to protect wildlife and minimise the impact of motorway infrastructure on ecosystems. For nearly ten years, this fruitful collaboration has resulted in mutual support and concrete actions on the ground, such as coordinating operations to rescue injured animals on the motorway network and identifying measures designed to reduce the risk of collisions with wildlife. In 2019, APRR-AREA also supported the association’s day-to-day activities by donating IT equipment and a specially fitted van.

In September 2023, the partnership reached a new milestone with the signing of a sponsorship agreement to support the design and construction of the wildlife rescue centre. APRR undertook to contribute 250,000 euros over two years, supplementing its financial support by drawing on the technical expertise of the Eiffage Group.


“Our partnership with Centre Athénas reflects our shared commitment to protecting wildlife and preserving biodiversity. As a motorway operator, we have a particular responsibility to preserve ecosystems and minimise the impact of our infrastructure on the environment. By supporting the creation of this new wildlife clinic, we are proud to back the Centre Athénas teams in their vital work of caring for wild animals and to make a tangible contribution to the protection of wildlife across our regions,” said Guillaume Hérent, Chief Executive of APRR-AREA.

(c) Photo : APRR/William Chareyre

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