Categories: World

Hundreds protest against release of bears in France

The French environment minister announced at the end of March that he wanted two female bears to be released into the Pyrenees-Atlantiques area to ensure the sustainability of the species.

But farmers' union FDSEA said the move is "completely out of step with reality"

But farmers’ union FDSEA said the move was “completely out of step with reality”.

Advertisement

Around 1,200 protesters, including some from nearby Spain, wielded banners reading “You will not have the skin of the shepherds!”.

More than 600 animals, mainly sheep, were killed in 2017 by bears, said Claude Soulas, the director of local agricultural cooperative the Centre for Livestock Farming.

He said protection measures recommended by the government, including fences and dogs, were ineffective.

Advertisement

Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot had said he wanted the bears to be released this autumn because there are only two left in the area.

The number of bears in the Pyrenees is estimated at 39, mainly in the centre.

For more news your way

Download our app and read this and other great stories on the move. Available for Android and iOS.

Published by
By Agence France Presse