Nimes. 350 ewes in front of the prefecture to denounce the attacks of wolves

A delegation of breeders was received Thursday, December 6, in the prefecture of Nimes to protest against the attacks of wolves. But they did not come alone: ​​300 of their sheep were waiting in front of the grates.

Some 350 ewes massed in front of the prefecture of Gard: this is the way that sheep farmers have used, this Thursday, to demand rapid measures against the wolf. "The record in the Gard for two years and especially in the area of ​​Costieres, near Vauvert, so in the plains area, [...] is about 380 animals killed by a wolf spotted officially," said Fanny Tamisier. This breeder and head of the Union of sheep farmers of the Gard took part Thursday in action in the center of Nîmes.

"What we asked the prefecture is to put in place means for the breeders to defend themselves ," she continued, while a delegation was received in the prefecture. These means, we have them through what are called the defense orders except that we must give the means to the agents of the Louvre to put that in place, "said Fanny Tamisier.

" That we can finally work properly "

"It's not up to us to hunt the wolf. We are not hunters. It's not our job , she adds. We would like the national wolf brigade created by Ségolène Royal to descend in the Gard in January 2019, as soon as the quota of wolves is put back in place, to eliminate the wolf (Costières) and that we can finally work properly " .

300 sheep in front of the prefecture in # Nîmes to say no to #loup pic.twitter.com/8KujthwUIh

The national brigade moves according to "the pressure at the level of predation," says the breeder, who calls it "very strong" in the Gard. The 350 ewes were transported by truck and unloaded in front of the station, in the center of Nîmes, before joining after a short transhumance the grids of the prefecture.

Breeders have said they hope the arrival of the national brigade before mid-January, otherwise they will consider new actions. This action comes as the National Office of Hunting and Wildlife (ONCFS) said Thursday that the wolf population continues to grow in France, where they should exceed 500 individuals this winter. They are about to reach a first "demographic viability threshold" .