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Toulouse mairie fined over shops leaving lights on at night
City becomes the first local authority in France to be fined for failing to enforce night-time lighting rules
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Marseille expands ride options with 500 new electric bikes
Voi and Pony replace Lime bikes to bringing total to 1,500 electric vélos. The city has also added 150 new stations as it pushes greener transport options
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Association saves domestic and wild animals from wildfires in France
Deer and cats are the most affected by fires in Gironde says charity
Pyrenees bear population rising
A total 43 bears were confirmed as living in the Pyrenees in 2017, with experts saying the actual figure is likely to be higher
The Pyrenees bear population is increasing, with 43 brown bears spotted in 2017, two more than the previous year, according to official figures.
The Office national de la chasse et la faune sauvage said the figure of 43 was a minimum number, as a number of bears known to be roaming the mountains had not been seen and therefore not recorded in the official figures.
Meanwhile, experts believe that between six and 10 cubs will be born this year, to boost the population further; while Environment Minister Nicolas Hulot has announced plans to introduce to more female bears to the Béarn in the autumn, as part of the government's brown bear action plan for the next decade.
The new arrivals will be the first bears released into the wild on the French side of the Pyrenees since 2006.
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