Brown Bears and Mountain Farmers - Is Cohabitation Possible?

Mid September a video was sent to local media in the Ariège Pyrenees.

In the video a spokesperson for the group of about 30 heavily armed individuals, their faces hidden by balaclavas, threatens to start hunting the brown bears in the Pyrenees which are a protected species. 

 

 

Still from video

 

This excellent programme C Politique Le Débat was broadcast on Arte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCIIh98sesk&feature=youtu.be

looks at both sides of the issue about whether brown bears and mountain farmers can cohabit in the Pyrenees.

 

 

 

 

1:46 mins. 8 minute introductory film. Sets out the pro and anti arguments for brown bear reintroduction in the Pyrenees and covers the summer attacks on livestock by brown bears and the video of the group threatening to start hunting the bears if the government does not start to listen to their concerns.

 

10:00 mins. Studio debate between  

Alan Reynes (Pro Bear) - the Director of the Association 'Pays de l'Ours' and François Toulis (Anti Bear) - President of the Ariège Chamber of Agriculture.  

 

25:00 mins. End. 

The Bear Facts II

Originally published in The Connexion newspaper July 2013

Bear Naming

 

The 3 bear cubs born in the Pyrenees in 2011 have just been named. Over 20 000 suggestions were made to the organisers of the naming operation Pay de l'Ours - Adet. Pay de l'Ours - Adet is an orgaisation campaigning for a viable brown bear population in the Pyrenees.

The names chosen were Callisto et Soulane for the 2 females and Pépite for the 3rd bear cub whose sex is not yet known.

Callisto :
A Nymphe in Greek mythology, Callisto on her death was transformed into the constellation The Big Bear by Zeus.

Soulane :
The name in the Pyrenees given to the sunny side of a valley

Pépite :
Nugget as in nugget of gold.Pyrénées : Les oursons de 2011 ont un nom et un parrain