Online petition and demonstration, the inhabitants of Eyne, in the Pyrénées-Orientales are mobilizing to save the mascot of the village: a deer which has taken up residence in the gardens of the town for several months. But after a complaint from a local resident, the animal could be put down.
In the village ofEynein the Pyrénées-Orientales, everyone knows “Mister Deer”: this deer has taken up residence in the resort for many months. If it is not uncommon to observe hinds or stags passing through the garden, this one does not seem to have decided to leave the place.
The deer is thus observed every day in different gardens of the town, it lets itself be approached and fed and even sleeps on the spot. Images shared many times on social networks. A rare closeness to this wild animal which makes the happiness of many inhabitants.
But the days of Monsieur the stag “ are perhaps accounts. Indeed, after having made the mistake of grazing a grove of flowers, the deer was reported to the town hall by a villager annoyed to see his garden damaged. According to the villager, the animal would have an aggressive behavior. To remedy this situation, the authorities are considering moving or culling the animal.
Unacceptable for Mathilde Manyawho then launched an online petition. And it’s a whole valley that is mobilizing to save “Mr. Deer”. The petition got 4767 signatures in a few days.
“Residents have complained in particular because “he eats the flowers”. Maybe these people should go live in town, no one has seen pigeons eating flowers yet? In the meantime, we want to avoid the slaughter of this wild animal at all costs. Eyne is a mountain village surrounded by forests and a protected valley. This wild animal is at home” explains Mathilde Manya.
The local association for the defense of animals pile hairs, also mobilized to save the deer by organizing a demonstration on Saturday April 16 in the town.
A case which, according to the mayor ofEyneAlain Bousquet, has gone much too far. He recalls that the town hall never ordered the slaughter of the animal, and that thehe dossier is in the hands of the French Office for Biodiversity, alone empowered, along with the Prefecture, to process files on wildlife and the hunting park. No decision has been made yet.
The mayor recalls that it is not recommended to feed the animal, as this could harm it and cause accidents. Indeed, if the deer is not a dangerous animal, it is nonetheless a wild animal with unpredictable reactions.