Rampant urbanization, agricultural consolidation and disappearance of bocages have gradually modified the landscapes, making these emblematic species vulnerable. Faced with this alarming observation, Haute-Vienne hunters are trying to reintroduce these species, with the hope of breathing new life into a declining hunting heritage.
“I accompanied my father. I was enjoying myself. There were partridges, pheasants… and wild rabbits, too, in quantity. The landscape was totally different. There was a lot of small game. I regret it, because it was friendly.”
Unfortunately, today these species face major challenges. On the front line, the destruction of their natural habitat. As Natasha Poirier, deputy director of the Haute-Vienne Hunters Federation, explains:
“We have had a change in agricultural landscapes. We went from small crops with lots of hedges and hedgerows to a grassland monoculture.”
This radical change, combined with increasing urbanizationhas reduced the wooded areas, brambles and meadows where these animals find shelter and food. In addition to the transformation of landscapes, these species also undergo the ravages of diseasewhich further accentuate their decline.
This observation is shared by hunting authorities, who are concerned about seeing part of the rural fauna disappear. Furthermore, for many hunters this situation is truly heartbreaking. It profoundly transforms their relationship with nature and the traditions they sought to perpetuate.
Reintroduction efforts
Faced with this alarming situation, the hunters of Haute-Vienne decided to act. Several hunting associations are mobilizing to revive small game populations, with reintroduction programs ambitious. In Azat-le-Ris, in the north of the department, the Basse Marche Hunting Interest Group has undertaken to reintroduce wild pheasants over an area of 10,000 hectares. Every year, in July, a thousand pheasants are released in this areain the hope of sustainably repopulating these spaces.
These efforts are already bearing fruit. Last spring, 500 wild pheasants were recorded in the department. “We have proven that these animals can survive and reproduce,” welcomes Jean-Paul Lavaud, actor of these reintroductions. For him, the pheasant is much more than game:
“For the hunter, it’s a challenge. But it is also a magnificent species for walkers and gardeners, who hear it singing in spring.”
These initiatives show that the scarcity of small game is not inevitable. However, their success is based on strict rules, includinge respect of shooting quotasin order to give these species time to rebuild their populations. Hunters play a key role here in the preservation and sustainable management of species.
If the decline of small game in Haute-Vienne raises legitimate concern, the efforts of hunters to preserve these species show that it is still possible to reverse the trend. By combining rigorous management and respect for the environment, nature enthusiasts hope to restore Limousin to its vibrant landscapes of yesteryear, where partridges, pheasants and wild rabbits could thrive.
