Since 2022, the proliferation of wild goats in the Fontfroide massif has been causing discord. There are now more than 1,000 of them and, in addition to being a nuisance for farmers, they represent a real danger for motorists. The prefect of Aude has therefore authorized their hunting along the RD611A.
The Animal Party, through the voice of Montpellier elected official Eddine Ariztegui, is speaking out after the authorization issued by the prefect of Aude to slaughter goats that have returned to the wild in the Fontfroide massif.Non-lethal solutions exist. I already have association contacts ready to recover some“, says the animal rights activist. The order allowing the hunting of these animals runs until September 30.
The case dates back to 2018. That year, winegrowers based around the village of Saint-André-de-Roquelongue denounced the appearance of goats and billy goats on their land. The animals feed on the smallest vine shoots, to the detriment of a large part of the harvest of these producers. Philippe Montagné assures today that he would only have 7 viable ha left out of 47 ha of vines.
From a hundred animals to more than 1200
Because over the years, the wild herd has grown. From a hundred heads, there are now more than 1,200. The first ones come from a neighboring farm that did not manage to control their proliferation. The sub-prefect of Aude, Rémi Recio, assures that the authorities quickly took the problem in hand, alerted by the mayors of several neighboring towns. “There were eight meetings, complaints, a lot of public and private money invested,” he assures, referring to the €30,000 offered last year by the Brigitte Bardot Foundation to the animals’ owner to build a 6 km circumference enclosure.
But these barriers have clearly not been enough to stem the growth of the herd and its wandering. Many on the ground speak of a situation that has become “uncontrollable, unmanageable”. At least 200 to 400 of these animals are said to continue to wander in the Fontfroide massif. Hence the prefect’s decision to authorize their hunting for a month, only along the RD611A, a departmental road that the goats cross to go and drink at the river. “There have already been clashes, the risk of an accident is real”one of the elected representatives of the sector testified on TF1.
The request for a Ministry of Animal Protection
The representative of the Animal Party does not hear these arguments. In any case, he believes that there are other solutions than hunting them. “I urge you to prioritize the capture of these animals. It is essential that state officials develop non-lethal reflexes when faced with such situations.. I doubt that President Macron or Prime Minister Barnier will approve a decision that goes against the expectations of the French, 80% of whom are demanding better protection of animals, as many opinion polls show,” wrote to the prefect of Aude Eddine Ariztegui, saying he was putting himself at his disposal.to discuss responsible solutions aimed at protecting both humans and animals.” The elected official, deputy mayor of Montpellier, even made it a political object, urging the government to establish a ministry dedicated to animal protection, accompanied by specific funding to support shelters.The State can no longer offload the care of animals that are victims of human neglect onto associations alone. It must assume its responsibilities by funding shelters for domestic and farm animals.”
The debate has begun. In the meantime, the Aude goats are still running.
Related News :