• DOI:10.4267/2042/56530
• Corpus ID: 74647749

Achille Urbain (1884-1957), le premier directeur du Parc Zoologique de Paris

@article{Borrel2014AchilleU,
  title={Achille Urbain (1884-1957), le premier directeur du Parc Zoologique de Paris},
  author={Thierry Borrel},
  journal={Bulletin De L Academie Veterinaire De France},
  year={2014}
}

• Thierry Borrel
• Published 2014
• Medicine
• Bulletin De L Academie Veterinaire De France

From a humble background, Achille Urbain (1884-1957) graduated from Lyon Veterinary School in 1906, started his long military career in 1903. He obtained his natural science degree at the faculty of science in Clermont-Ferrand. Under the supervision of Gaston Bonnier (1853-1922), he submitted his botany dissertation at the Sorbonne in 1920. In the same year, he was recruited by the military laboratory for veterinary research (MLVR), and studied immunology under the supervision of Alexandre Besreka (1870-1940) at the Pasteur Institute. In 1927, Urbain was made director of MLVR, obtained his Doctor of veterinary Medicine for his work on complement binding reaction. In 1931, Urbain was recruited as assistant manager of the Menagerie du Jardin des Plantes, and he enjoyed a quick career rise at the Museum, becoming in fewer than three years, the first director of the Parc zoologique de Paris, and the first holder of the chair of “Ethology of wild animals” (1934). The scientist assumed his position as director of the Museum from 1942 to 1949. Urbain wrote over 350 books and papers, more than two third of them were related to immunology and microbiology. In his remaining literature, his interest concerned zoology - nutrition, reproduction and care of the animals at the Zoo de Vincennes. After his trip to Indochina in 1937, the scientist acquired his fame among zoologists thanks to his description of Cambodian grey cow or Kouprey. During his entire career, the scientist was influenced by pastorisme, studying diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatments of microbial diseases of the animals at the Menagerie, and at the Zoo de Vincennes. Urbain carried out the construction of the Parc zoologique de Paris. As director during more than 20 years (1934-1955), he stood out because of his remarkable management. It was at the Parc zoologique de Paris newly renovated that on 23rd October 2014 was held the unveiling of the commemorative plate in honour of Achille Urbain. The moving ceremony jointly organised by the Museum and the National Veterinary Academy was the occasion of paying deserved tribute to Urbain.