Large Predators Committee: the distress of breeders after around forty wolf attacks since the beginning of the year

Une poignée de militants de la Coordination rurale ont attendu la fin du comité Grands Prédateurs. Midi Libre – Célian Guignard

Le comité Grands Prédateurs s’est réuni ce mercredi 31 juillet 2024, dans la salle des associations de Chastel-Nouvel, avec les services de l’État. Les syndicats veulent des réponses fortes et rapides.

“Since the beginning of the year, 50 reports have been made in Lozère and 80% of them are wolf attacks, either because it is obvious, or because it has already struck nearby and it is unlikely that another animal is responsible. This therefore represents around forty attacks in total." According to the figures given by Philippe Castanet, the prefect of Lozère, at the end of the Large Predators committee, this Wednesday, July 31, 2024, it appears that the pressure of the wolf on the herds of the department is still as strong. "These figures are equivalent to 2023 in terms of attacks and victims", confirms the State representative.

A recent event particularly shocked breeders. On Saturday, July 6, a flock was targeted in Laval-du-Tarn. Around thirty sheep were injured, several others killed. A carnage reminiscent of those of the year 2022, with particularly devastating attacks. “The farmer's wife was 8 months pregnant, two or three weeks away from giving birth, regrets Jean-Luc Goulet, co-president of the Rural Coordination of Lozère (CR 48). It was not his place to go and care for the animals in the middle of the night.”

“That a wolf that attacks can take a ball"

The union was present in front of the Chastel-Nouvel association hall, where the Large Predators committee met. Inside, Maria Baret, a dairy sheep farmer on the Méjean causse, was able to present the organization's demands, alongside the Young Farmers and the FDSEA. For the CR 48, the psychological harm after a wolf attack must be recognized. “I was preyed on in 2022, continues Jean-Luc Goulet. It is not possible to see your sheep scattered everywhere. The images then come back constantly…"

The Rural Coordination is also asking for administrative flexibility to defend livestock. "What we want is for a wolf that attacks to be able to take a bullet without having to request 50 authorizations", proclaims the co-president. And, already, better equipment in the context of simple defense shooting : “We are ordered to protect our herds. The wolf attacks mainly at night. We must be able to use night vision goggles.” On this point, the prefect of Lozère is clear: “It is a question of regulation. We cannot entrust weapons of certain categories to everyone. An average hunter cannot benefit from thermal goggles and night vision.”

About fifteen wolves in Lozère ?

According to estimates by Prefect Philippe Castanet, there are around fifteen wolves in Lozère, including one isolated individual on the Causse de Sauveterre and three groups based in Margeride, on Mont Lozère (with a pack formed, Editor's note) and on Mont Aigoual.

The risk of new demonstrations

The Young Farmers and the FDSEA have also presented their grievances. One of them is none other than “the elimination of the feeding pack installed on Mount Lozère”. “The law does not allow it”, Philippe Castanet answers them soberly. The latter also recalls that a 2-year-old male was “regularly shot on the Causse Méjean", last June, and that other individuals in attack situations could be shot in Lozère.

The three unions all announce that they are ready to demonstrate if significant progress is not obtained quickly. The Rural Coordination is already preparing to bring together its activists for a new shock action.

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