French Sheep Farmers Protest Against Wolf Attacks in Lyon

French breeders demonstrate with their sheep in Lyon

A total of 1,500 sheep farmers disembarked to the French city of Lyon with their flocks to express their anguish over a number wolf attacks in France's Aveyron region. The farmers warned that the wolves, which returned to the country in the early 1990s and now comprise of 360 animals, are threatening their way of life. According to breeder Francois Giacobbi, although the number represents only a handful of wolves in the area, the 800,000 sheep have become a "pantry for the wolf." The farmers claim that the use of electric fences and livestock guardian dogs has not worked. Last year, government figures indicated that 8,000 sheep were killed in attacks blamed on wolves in southeastern France. This year, the figure has reached 4,153 with major increase in Aveyron where attacks increased from 16 in 2016 to 50 this year. The farmers are particularly at odds with the government's so-called "wolf plan" which allows a nationwide killing of up to 40 wolves by July 2018. Unions closed off on talks over the plan last month, particularly over a new measure which requires farmers to give proof that they have take protective actions to receive financial compensation for wolf attacks. On Monday, the farmers called for the right to be allowed to shoot wolves on sight over and above the limit according to the plan whenever their flock is instantly threatened. They demanded the government to establish a "zero-attack" policy, warning otherwise that their way of life could diminish.

Up to 1,500 farmers took to the streets with their flocks demonstrating to call for attention to increase in wolf attacks on the sheep

It is very disturbing to see what a hostile relationship France's sheep farmers have with wolves, and are now demanding the government to allow them to take matters into their own hands in dealing with wolves. Despite the use of non-lethal protective measurements like livestock guardian dogs and electric fencing, the farmers claimed that such measures have not worked. They even added that they do not need to have solid proof to show that they have lost their sheep to wolves and received "massive subsidies" for such losses. This is outright persecution of an animal that has always been depicted as a "cold-blooded killer" in European folklore for centuries. Ironically, people in Europe were treated in much the same way during the Middle Ages when there was no need to have legitimate proof to condemn a person(s) accused or suspected of committing a serious crime. In addition, this "wolf plan" is described by pro-wolf groups as "very favorable to farmers and very anti-wolf."

A banner showing French poet Victor Hugo's quote which reads "He who saves the wolf kills the sheep"

The farmers, the government, and wildlife activists should compromise peacefully regarding the problems farmers are facing and come up with plans that benefit both farmers and wolves. This includes educating farmers to never unfairly stigmatize wolves as killers that should be decimated without question. In addition, when farmers claim that non-lethal protective measurements are not working, they should have proper reason and proof as to why they are not working. Otherwise, there would be no help in tackling this issue of livestock predation by wolves. The arguments and demands farmers made in Lyon indicates that their mindset is similar to that of their ancestors from the Middle Ages. They should be taught that such a way of thinking and taking actions based on that thinking will not make much difference in solving their wolf problem. If somehow the wolves disappear from France, then it would cause a major ecological imbalance as the number of prey species will increase and present farmers with another problem of disease spreading to their livestock.

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