1.1.5 The brown bear predation
context
The marginal lands that have previously been the province of
pastoralists are increasingly coming into focus as reserves of biodiversity.
Their very inaccessibility has permitted the survival of species eliminated in
high-density agricultural areas. Consequently, there is pressure on governments
to declare large regions protected areas, both because of pressure from
conservation lobby and potential income from tourism. Uncertainties about
pastoral land tenure have made it difficult for pastoralists to lodge effective
land claims. In pre-modern era, predation on pastoral herds was a major concern
of virtually all pastoralists and a constant demand on herding labour.
Expansion of agriculture and spread of modern weapons in the early twentieth
century have largely eliminated predators in whole ecosystems. However,
external changes are affecting views of predation and thus attitudes towards
the wholesale elimination of predators. Many species, such as wolves, bears and
snow-leopards, are now seen as endangered and therefore as the object of
conservation efforts rather than as a nuisance to be eliminated (Göbel
1997).
1.1.5.1 General considerations
The brown bear's reintroduction in the French Pyrenees (1996
and 2006) changes the perception of a stock farming generally favourable to the
environment. The place wished to assign to this stock farm in the protection of
natural areas is subject to very contrasting positions and the presence of bear
creates changes in farming practices that could disapprove the contribution of
stock farming to the management of «natural» areas. Scientists
involved are well aware that losses on herds may be much important. But on the
field, it is noticed that the tendency is to consider that it is rather
exceptionally. Implicitly, it is as if there was an objective "to clear of" the
predator, putting forward stray dogs, and to question the practices of farmers,
even his good faith. Predation's risk hangs over the flock day and night,
throughout the presence on MSP. Issues of indirect losses and even more those
of animals not found are crucial (Garde, 2001). In relation to Garde's works
(2006), if the bear is really just the scapegoat for other difficulties of the
sheep industry, it is a waste of time to work on the protection of herds; and
if at the reverse, the bear is a new technical issue requiring major
adaptation's efforts to farmers and shepherds, it is a waste of time trying to
explain the opposition of farmers by historical, psychological and even
mythical considerations. In early 1990, the last bear of Central Pyrenees
disappears. Only 7 to 8 individuals remain in the western nucleus. Pyrenean
brown bear population is 14 to 18 individuals in 2005. This is insufficient to
save the species and a new strengthening program is implemented, 5 bears are
released in central Pyrenees in 2006. The brown bear is not only an emblematic
species, but an umbrella or flagship species which will provide many economical
(through tourism) and ecological (preservation of biodiversity) outcomes
(FERRUS, 2007; Ministry of ecology, 2006).
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