Ursus arctos
Carnivora - Ursidae
Après son extermination totale sur le territoire français vers 1980, il fut réintroduit dans la commune de Melles au sud de la Haute Garonne en 1996 et 1997 avec les 3 premiers individus venus de Slovénie et dont les gènes sont les plus proches de ceux qui vivaient dans les Pyrénées. après d'autres opérations de lâchers et quelques pertes, leur nombre se monte à présent à plus de 30 individus.
Je n’entrerai pas dans la polémique qui oppose farouchement les partisans de ces opérations et les éleveurs de bétail et de moutons tout aussi farouchement contre. Tout en comprenant les arguments des uns et autres, je dirai simplement que les Pyrénées sont encore assez vastes pour soutenir une petite population d'un animal au top de la chaîne animale, d'autant que même s'il est omnivore, sa nourriture se compose essentiellement de fruits, de baies, de racines, de charognes, de petits rongeurs et n'attaque les moutons que s'il est vraiment affamé.
Brown bear
After its total extermination on the French territory by 1980, it was reintroduced in the municipality of Melles in the South of the Haute-Garonne department in 1996 and 1997 with the first 3 individuals caught in Slovenia and whose the genes are the closest to the bears who lived in the Pyrenees mountains. After a couple more releases and some losses, their number have risen to over 30 individuals to this day.
I shall not enter the debate that opposes fiercely the partisans of these operations to the cattle and sheep breeders so fiercely against. Although I can understand the arguments of both sides, I shall just say that Pyrenees are vast enough to sustain a small population of such a top guy all the more since it feeds mainly on fruits, berries, roots, some grasses, small rodents et attacks sheep only when truly starving.
After its total extermination on the French territory by 1980, it was reintroduced in the municipality of Melles in the South of the Haute-Garonne department in 1996 and 1997 with the first 3 individuals caught in Slovenia and whose the genes are the closest to the bears who lived in the Pyrenees mountains. After a couple more releases and some losses, their number have risen to over 30 individuals to this day.
I shall not enter the debate that opposes fiercely the partisans of these operations to the cattle and sheep breeders so fiercely against. Although I can understand the arguments of both sides, I shall just say that Pyrenees are vast enough to sustain a small population of such a top guy all the more since it feeds mainly on fruits, berries, roots, some grasses, small rodents et attacks sheep only when truly starving.
Marmota marmota
Rodentia - Sciuridae
Marmotte - Marmot
Rodentia - Sciuridae
Marmotte - Marmot
