Chasseurs in the area around St-Enimie (Lozere) have begun an annual census of wild sheep - known as "mouflons" - in the Tarn valley. There are reckoned to be around 300 beasts, a fairly stable population. Chasseurs have a permit to cull 140 annually so this time of year when lambs are being born is a good time to make the count. The area available to the sheep is some 20000 hectares, but it is thought that they are sticking to the valley as there may be a new natural predator, wolves.
Because wolves dont much distinguish between wild and domestic sheep, shepherds and chasseurs want more freedom to hunt the predators. If presumably the wolves are controlled there will be more wild sheep to be hunted. A "win/win" for the hunters. Not so good for the wild life.
Perhaps the chasseurs will fall asleep counting all those sheep.
