are the french nuts

[Ted Newgent 4,896]

Quote

France is to allow the wolf population to grow from about 360 now to 500 by 2023, despite protests from farmers worried about their livestock.

A new plan announced by the government represents a rise of nearly 40% in the wolf population.

After being eradicated by hunters in the 1930s, the wolf made its way back into France from Italy in the 1990s.

Wolves are listed as a protected species by the Bern Convention that France has signed up to.

• France on alert for prowling wolves
• Wolf hunters deployed to French Alps
• Wolf makes a comeback in France

Animal rights groups had been pushing for a more radical proposal and accused ministers of lacking political courage.

In a gesture to farmers, the government said that hunters in France would still be allowed to cull 40 wolves this year, the same as in 2017. Up to 10% of the wolf population could be culled every year from 2019, and that proportion could rise to 12% if more frequent wolf attacks were registered.

Almost 12,000 sheep were killed by wolves in France in 2017 and the government has come under strong pressure from farmers in French regions - particularly in the Alps and the Pyrenees.

"We place trust in all of the stakeholders and local lawmakers to calm the debate and enable co-existence over the long-term," Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert and Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot said in a joint statement.

The new plan also envisages that livestock owners will be able to apply for state funds to protect their animals from wolves.

France is not the only Western European country witnessing the return of the wolf.

Last month a wolf was spotted in the Flanders region of northern Belgium for the first time in over a century.

There were an estimated 60 wolf packs living in Germany in 2017, a rise of some 15% on the previous year.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43122088

[DIDO.1 20,809]

The French president has just come out in support of hunting with hounds. They also allow cockfighting and bullfighting in areas where it is culturally important. So not as nuts as the uk yet

[forest of dean redneck 11,183]

1 hour ago, DIDO.1 said:

The French president has just come out in support of hunting with hounds. They also allow cockfighting and bullfighting in areas where it is culturally important. So not as nuts as the uk yet

Didn't know they still allowed cock fighting

[scothunter 12,609]

Nuts no c**ts yea lol

[Guest Navek]

13 minutes ago, forest of dean redneck said:

Didn't know they still allowed cock fighting

Yea they have proper arena for it .. you’d be surprised at how many people from different country’s go to watch and take part 

[Meece 1,957]

there was a program on the box only the other day about how packs of various dogs are living out with the herds of sheep up in the mountains and are sort of like guarding the sheep from the wolves. the program was about living in outlandish places.  It was interesting.  I'll try to find a link.

[Dinosaurs 2,008]

Hopefully they’ll find there way to Calais ?. Atb

[forest of dean redneck 11,183]

12 minutes ago, Meece said:

there was a program on the box only the other day about how packs of various dogs are living out with the herds of sheep up in the mountains and are sort of like guarding the sheep from the wolves. the program was about living in outlandish places.  It was interesting.  I'll try to find a link.

Was watching animals with cameras on iplayer that had bit about flock guardians southern France?

[Waz 4,203]

9 hours ago, forest of dean redneck said:

Didn't know they still allowed cock fighting

around Calais

[ChrisJones 7,973]

Is there any indication of how they're going to manage this re-introduction?

[stumfelter 3,032]

What would be the best herd protection dog, Kangal?

[Greyman 25,157]

They rear the dog with the sheep from a pup so it thinks it's one of them and it naturally defends its family, it's like a giant golden retriever, according to those original statistics 360 wolves ate 12000 sheep, I suspect a few false claims may have been made to reach those stats or they have some very fat lamb munching wolves over there 

[forest of dean redneck 11,183]

1 hour ago, stumfelter said:

What would be the best herd protection dog, Kangal?

On program I watched they said they were crossbreed herd guardian/watch/protection dogs.

[keepdiggin 9,208]

For a large country like French a small population of 500 wolves should be easy to manage as for guard dog look at the Caucasian shepherd 

[ChrisJones 7,973]

13 minutes ago, keepdiggin said:

For a large country like French a small population of 500 wolves should be easy to manage as for guard dog look at the Caucasian shepherd 

Agreed but have they mentioned how? The OP states that 12000 sheep were killed by wolves in 2017. I'm sure there are some questions about how an increase in pack numbers will affect the local livestock.