From fox cubs to singing mayors: Five good news stories from France Our pick of feel-good stories this week
Walkers in French Alps track sheepdogs with GPS - incidents reduced A website that geolocates the huge dogs and the flocks they protect has helped lower ‘frightening’ encounters with visitors
What the flock? Sheep set to walk across Lyon city centre A flock of 24 sheep is beginning its journey across Lyon today, in a walk that will take three nights over three communes and 14 parks, as part of an urban-agricultural event Which French departments have more cows, pigs and sheep than people? French farmers ask for old Christmas trees to feed herds Crisis team helps animals trapped in French Alps after snow
Wolf tail gift ‘bad taste’ says French welfare group A wolf and predator welfare association has denounced a wolf tail that was given by the president of a French council as a leaving gift, as being “in very bad taste”.
West France wolf sighting confirmed after ewe deaths The animal spotted and photographed in western France last week has been confirmed as a grey wolf, which is a protected species in the country, authorities have said.
New pupils flocking to school to keep class open Children at one rural school are used to seeing sheep in the nearby mountains, but not in their playground... until now.
SNCF banks on sheep to keep grass trim Two sheep have been installed next to a railway line in the heart of Paris so they can keep the grass banks tidy.
‘I was helping pack away wool when I was about five’ Jane Hanks speaks to a top sheep shearer about the challenges of making a living in the trade and the thrill of competition
Wolf numbers on rise in France despite farmer anger The wolf population in France is “exploding rapidly”, amid an ongoing plan to boost numbers to 500 by 2023 - despite angry opposition from sheep farmers.
Plan lets wolf population grow 40% in 5 years Government unveils scheme that will see wolf numbers reach 500 by 2023
Brown bear population increase divides opinion Record number of bears in Pyrenees but sheep farmers are not happy
Dispute over sheep killing by bears Pro and anti bear groups are at loggerheads again in the Pyrenees over whether or not to reintroduce more bears.