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“It is really important to protect the ibexes, because they are emblematic for all the fauna of the mountain”. Last March, the prefect of Haute-Savoie announced to authorize the slaughter of 170 ibexes in the Bargy massif.
In March 2022, the prefect of Haute-Savoie announced to authorize the slaughter of the 170 ibexes of the Bargy massif in France.
They are suspected of having transmitted the brucellosis disease to a bovine last November. The ibex is a species that has been protected for over 40 years.
“The ibex is an animal that has practically completely disappeared from our mountains because it has been hunted a lot”explains Pierre Raphoz, wildlife photographer.
“We say indiscriminate killing attempts are counterproductive”. Indiscriminate slaughter means slaughtering ibexes without knowing whether they are sick or not.
“All over the world, when it’s been tested, experienced, it doesn’t work”, testifies Jean-Pierre Crouzat, regional vice-president France Nature Environment.
“The right method is not to carry out indiscriminate slaughter by shooting into the heap. The method is to capture as much as possible, to mark, to euthanize the HIV-positive and also to separate the pasture areas. adds Jean-Pierre Crouzat.
“There are alternatives. If there were none, maybe, but there are alternatives that are scientifically proven” says regional vice-president FNE.
The National Council for the Protection of Nature has published a unanimous unfavorable opinion on this order. A public consultation last February received 84% of unfavorable votes.