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Latest update: 25/07/2011
- agriculture - France - nature - wildlife
Wolf-hunting permit issued after sheep massacre
France’s growing wolf population is good news for environmentalists – but the feeling is not shared by the country’s livestock farmers. This week they get a measure of revenge as a rare wolf-hunting license is issued.
By FRANCE 24 (text)
A rare wolf-hunting license was issued Monday after a spate of attacks on mountain herds. The move was given a cautious welcome by livestock farmers who fear it is too little too late in the face of a ballooning – and mostly untouchable – wolf population.
The permit was issued by the departmental authorities after a bloody weekend in which a suspected lone wolf was responsible for the deaths of more than 70 sheep.
During the Friday night attack on a flock of some 1,500 animals, 10 were killed outright and 62, stampeding in panic, went over the edge of a cliff.
Yves Derbez, representing 347 herdsmen in the department, said the move was a “small measure” after the loss to his flock, and urgently called for tighter regulation of wolf numbers as their population balloons in France.
“We have to take concrete measures now before sheep herding is completely wiped out in France,” he told reporters on Sunday.
Attacks up
The number of animals falling victim to wolves is certainly on the rise.
So far this year, there have been 66 attacks attributed to wolves in France, claiming the lives of 422 animals. In the whole of 2010, there were 86 attacks at a cost of 246 animals, mostly sheep.
The signing of the permit on Monday is a last resort measure. By law only six wolves a year can be killed legally in France and permits can only be issued if all other means of protection of flock have proven ineffective.
A total of six wolves have been legally hunted in France since 2004.
In the 1930s, wolves were completely eradicated from France. They have been gradually reintroduced since 1992, when a pair of Italian wolves was transported to the Mercantour national park on the Italian-French border.
According to official estimates, France has anywhere between 150 and 200 wolves, roaming mostly in the French Alps.
Some populations have emerged in the central Massif range and also in the Pyrenees on the Spanish border.
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Comments (6)
Wolves
Perhaps the increase in Wolf numbers is why the wild Boar fertility rate is changing. I imagine the boar are not as easy a prey as the sheep.
We need to find a good predator-prey balance before we get our guns a blazing on either the boar or the wolf. Was it not the wolf who helped us become what we are?
Fainting goats used to be kept alongside sheep as a Wolf/predator decoy will this be a suitable route to take?
Where are you taking your news ?????
Wolves have never been reintroduce in France. They came by their own from Italy.
Your numeral information about wolves attacks is wrong because we do not know what is the number of roaming hunters dogs attack on livestock. Let's say about morethan half of all attacks counted.
We are the only country, in all europe, where wolves kills so much sheep in one night or one attack !!
You do not speak also about the shepherd dogs attack on their neighbouring.
Farmers in our countryare not in danger because of wolves but because of this world/european politique that destroy their job.
A total of six wolves have been hunt in France since 2004 !! And what about the hundred of them who have been killed by poachers since they came back ?!!
Please, stop to write things like this and start to do your job !!
hunting wolves
obviouly these wolves have become a danger and a minice to society.. let the bowhunters have the right to hunt where they want and this problem will be resolved!! it worked in s.c. give the hunters more rights and the hunters will help you!!!
Wolf in Sheep's clothing
Interesting. In Canada wolves and coyotes can be a problem too. However, when you can be compensated for wolf kills of sheep the number of attacks seem to rise. Often, domestic dogs let out for an evening run form into packs and revert to hunting behaviour. There is no compensation for dog attacks, therefore they almost never happen. I hope it is a wolf. They have wide territories. He may have already moved on.
Dumb Strategy
How do you deal with wolves who happen to be human and steal sheep from farms? Do you go out and kill a few human beings to solve the problem? It is totlly unrelated. This is purely barbaric and has nothing to do with protecting livestock! If you want to protect sheep invest a little in electric fences and the problem is solved
The wolf at the door.
I was surprised to hear of wolves in France. We were taught that wolves have been extinct in Europe for centuries.
I am not aware of what is being done to keep the wolves at bay. But the French people of the past used shepherds to guard the flock, sheep herding dogs to help. Is there enough wild food for the wolves to eat? Have the wolves been taught to touch wolves to fear humans and settlements? Are there any high tech solutions to this problem? Motion sensors with bright lights and loud noises could work.
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