While breeders are worried and mobilizing, the first wolf monitoring unit met this Monday, October 28 within the Gironde Prefecture to communicate on the measures to be taken in the presence of this predator. This is the first time in a century that it has been observed, after being noticed on October 13 in this Aquitaine department.
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Monday October 21, the presence of the wolf was authenticated in Gironde and announced by the Prefecture after captures made by a camera trap installed in Braud-et-Saint-Louis (Haute Gironde).
Prefect Etienne Guyot has just brought together representatives of the agricultural profession, the Chamber of Agriculture, the Federation of Hunters, nature protection associations, the Association of Rural Mayors and State services, to indicate the implementation of the National Wolf Plan 2024-2029 in Gironde.
In order to reassure all those present, he recalled that he had been Bear Coordinating Prefect for four years in Toulouse, “so the subjects of predation I know a little bit” he punctuated the exchanges.
Since the creation of the wolf plan at the national level, a zoning system has been put in place according to several circles. Circle 0 corresponds to an area of constant predation, circle 1 for recurring predation. The Prefect of Nouvelle Aquitaine announced that he had requested the classification of Gironde in Zone 2/3.
If you are in circle 2 or 3, which we will be in the Department of Gironde, this will allow you to have means to finance protection dogs, fences, and a whole series of protections which will be adapted to each breeding.
Etienne Guyot,Prefect of New Aquitaine
The Wolf plan allows you to release credits from the Ministry of Agriculture to protect yourself from the predator.
“This will provide the means to finance protection dogs, fences, and a whole series of protections which will be adapted to each breeding” clarified the Prefect before concluding, “The objective is to be in an à la carte dimension”.
The breeding of Patous and shepherd dogs will be financed by credits from the Ministry of Agriculture
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© LUDOVIC LAUDE / MAXPPP
However, the State representative above all wanted to remind everyone that vigilance was initial, and that it was appropriate to bring the herds home.
In the same way, the State representative was keen to point out that this vigilance was also intended for everyone, as soon as the presence of the animal is suspected. If you see something, report it.”
For this, two contacts were given:
- If you observed the animal: contact the departmental service of the French Biodiversity Office (05.57.74.10.24 / [email protected]) any visual observation of a large canid type animal – and provide any photo or video that you were able to take
- If you have been the victim of an animal attack: For the observation process, immediately notify the DDTM of Gironde – Water and Nature Service (05.47.30.51.72 / [email protected]).
The classification of Gironde in zone 2 to 3 will also make it possible to trigger a compensation process. This compensation is linked to a report from the French Biodiversity Office, transmitted to the departmental territorial management.
This compensation process is then implemented according to a scale: “you do not have the same compensation depending on whether you have a ewe, a lamb or a ewe who was expecting a lamb or a ram, we have different rates.”specifies the Prefect of Nouvelle Aquitaine.
All the actors present seem satisfied
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© FTV
The Prefect clearly stated that “the wolf is an animal protected at the national and international level, with conventions that France has signed, and at the same time, it is a predator. We must find the right balances and this Wolf action plan is intended to find the right balances.”
Furthermore, these announcements seem to have won over the participants in this emergency meeting. A real consensus seems to be found.
For Johanna Frenaud, representative of the Association for the Protection of Large Predators, Férus, this plan is “very constructive!”she said before saying to herself “reassured”.
As for Kelly Belly, shepherd, victim of wolf predations on his flock, also present at the meeting, is also, “very happy” of this round table and the implementation of this national plan.
We will have to put in place dogs and fences and we will have to live with the wolf on our territory.
Kelly Belly,shepherd victim of a wolf attack in Gironde
The Gironde hunters federation was also represented by its President, Henri Sabarot, for whom “We are going to do counts on animals that can be predated and not have psychosis.”
In 2024, more than 20 new additional departments have noted the presence of the wolf. “We have more than sixty French departments which currently have the wolf” concluded the regional prefect.
