The Local France

Europe set to allow more wolf hunting after protection status lowered

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:33:52 +0100

Dozens of countries on Tuesday approved downgrading the protection status of the wolf in Europe, a move activists say will upset the recovery made by the species over the past 10 years after near extinction a century ago.

No more shooting to scare Pyrenees bears, French court rules

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 16:26:20 +0100

Livestock owners in the French Pyrenees can no longer fire warning shots to scare off endangered bears, a court ruled on Friday, handing a victory to animal rights groups who warned of the risk of accidental deaths.

France's Asterix park to shut down dolphin show

Mon, 25 Jan 2021 13:26:42 +0100

A major amusement park in northern France said on Monday it would close its dolphin and sea lion aquarium, the day before lawmakers start to debate new animal welfare rules.

'Deadly' tiger mosquitos have now colonised half of France

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 14:40:51 +0200

The Asian tiger mosquito, which carries a range of potentially fatal diseases, has now colonised half of all the départements in France and is here to stay, experts have warned.

'Cat-fox' found on French island of Corsica may be a new species

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 10:13:42 +0200

In the forest undergrowth of northern Corsica, two wildlife rangers open a cage to reveal a striped, tawny-coated animal, one of 16 felines known as "cat-foxes" in the area and thought to be a new species.

This horse-killing bear is causing 'lots of concern' in Spain and France

Sat, 25 May 2019 13:37:05 +0200

An "abnormally predatory" brown bear that has killed horses in the mountains between France and Spain could be removed from the area if he doesn't change his behaviour, Spanish environmental authorities said on Friday.

VIDEO: French farmers versus wolves and bears in a battle for their livelihoods

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 18:54:42 +0200

While the return of wolves and bears to parts of France might be pleasing to nature lovers French farmers say the wild animals are threatening their livelihoods. Alex Dunham looks at the divisive issue in this video report.

Asian hornets claim another victim in France: What to do to avoid being stung

Wed, 19 Sep 2018 19:54:33 +0200

The public in France are once again being warned this week after a Normandy man became the latest victim of Asian hornets when he died after being stung. Here's what to do to avoid being stung.

Holidaymakers warned over dozens of stingrays near Mediterranean coast

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 13:12:34 +0200

Authorities in the south of France have warned swimmers to take care due to the presence of potentially dangerous stingrays off the coast of the Mediterranean.

Two endangered leopard cubs born at French zoo

Wed, 18 Jul 2018 10:35:20 +0200

Two endangered clouded leopard cubs have been born at a zoo in eastern France, its director said on Tuesday.

Why are Dordogne’s noisy frogs embroiled in a bizarre legal battle?

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 16:03:00 +0200

An almighty row continues to rage in the Dordogne and at the centre of it is an army of noisy frogs.

French countryside sees alarming 'collapse' of bird populations

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:15:32 +0100

Bird populations across an eerily quiet French countryside have collapsed, on average, by a third over the last decade-and-a-half, alarmed researchers reported on Tuesday.

Deadly sea creatures wash up on Brittany’s beaches

Tue, 19 Sep 2017 17:18:41 +0200

Beachgoers in western France have been warned after potentially deadly Portuguese Man o' War were washed up on the shores of Brittany.

Bear chases flock of 209 sheep off a cliff to their death in Pyrenees

Mon, 24 Jul 2017 12:24:47 +0200

A bear is being blamed for the deaths of an entire flock of sheep which were found at the base of a cliff in the Pyrenees near the border between France and Spain.

Wolf appears on the slopes at French Alps ski resort

Thu, 03 Mar 2016 13:30:49 +0100

The wolf was spotted by a ski resort worker in Savoie, who managed to snap rare photos of the wild animal.

France spends €65k to help mating frogs hop it

Wed, 28 Oct 2015 12:13:25 +0100

Frogs that are usually squashed on the roads of western France may have had an extra bounce in their step on Wednesday, after a set of tunnels were installed to allow them safe access to their breeding grounds.

France set to slaughter Alps mountain goats

Thu, 08 Oct 2015 18:47:34 +0200

Wildlife groups have been angered by plans to cull hundreds of wild mountain goats in the Haut-Savoie region of the French Alps. But authorities insist they have the action is justified.

Spain's newest export to France: Vultures

Fri, 10 Apr 2015 19:00:42 +0200

It is well known that France imports Spain’s wine, its jamon and its olive oil, but now Spain is sending a rather different cargo over the Pyrenees to its northern neighbour.

France in trouble over rare rodent

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 11:47:55 +0200

The European Court in Luxembourg warned France on Thursday over its failure to protect the threatened Great Hamster of Alsace, the last wild hamster species in Europe.