tense meeting between agricultural unions and Millevaches Regional Natural Park

A meeting on the presence of wolves in Corrèze was organized by the Millevaches Regional Natural Park, in Saint-Merd-les-Oussines, this Wednesday, November 27. Around thirty breeders from Corrèze took part. According to them, any cohabitation with the predator is impossible.

“Anyone who has experienced predation knows: the first attack is something you never forget in your life! Never !“In the group of around thirty people, the microphone is passed from hand to hand. Each speech is imbued with anger. This Tuesday, November 28, in Saint-Merd-les-Oussines, the breeders of the FDSEA of Corrèze and Young farmers participated in a public meeting organized by the Millevaches National Regional Park (PNR).Change European and French law, but do not accuse the PNR of what it is not responsible for“, exclaims his Philippe Brugère. At the heart of the discord: the wolf. The predator's attacks are increasing in Limousin.

The theme of the meeting crystallizes the criticism. Its title provoked indignation among agricultural unions: “The agreement with the great predator“For the unions, this is a provocation in this territory still affected, the day before, by a herd attack. “When we organize a meeting with this theme, how can we explain that we are going to defend farmers? If he wants to defend farmers, this kind of meeting has nothing to do there.”

A breeder from Vercors shares her experience: in ten years, she has lost more than three hundred attacked sheep. “I hear the speeches where we tell them to go see the politicians: it won't change anything for us! We fought, we had the same speeches, the same discussions, we fought to know how many wolves there are, how he came, has anyone reinstated him. .. But in the end, he's there!“

According to Philippe Brugère, the objective of this gathering was to better prepare breeders for cohabitation with the predator that he considers inevitable. “We are not, at the PNR, either pro-wolf or anti-wolfassures the president. We really need to get out of this debate. From the moment the wolf is there, there is a threat. The question is: how do we protect ourselves while waiting for this threat to disappear?“

The subject of the wolf appears insoluble today. Debates around the animal are expected to intensify at least until January 2025, the date of the next elections to the Chamber of Agriculture.