Goiat needs us!

In the name of biodiversity, an inhuman program for bears

Suspected of having attacked herds or domestic animals (pigs, sheep or horses) seven times, the agricultural organizations called for measures against Goiat, a bear of Slovenian origin who had been "released" in the Val d'Aran area by Spanish authorities back in 2016. This was to make up for the lack of genetic diversity in the Pyrenean bear population, which were the descendants from a single male, the Pyros bear. The bears do not understand the borders put in place by humans, Goiat moves between our two countries, followed thanks to the GPS collar with which he was equipped with.

Goiat remained the favourite target of the French anti-bear activists. And this spring, after the attacks of which Goiat is perhaps responsible for, the Prefect of the Hautes-Pyrénées wishes to put in place measures of scaring off in order to remove the bear and let us just say this clearly, try to push it back to the other side of the border… The “bear plan” also stipulates that in the event of a so-called “problem bear”, the State can then launch scaring off operations. But what is a "problem bear"? A bear trying to feed? And what would be the next step warning shots? The slaughter of a bear? Isn't the goal of bringing bears to the Pyrenees to see them multiply? Along with the inherent risks of their presence?

Let's take part in a public consultation!

Before the publication of this decree, the Prefecture must carry out a public consultation. It will close on June 14^th. In order to prevent this operation of scaring off this bear, many of us must respond unfavourably to this project.

By logging on to the site of the Ministry of Ecological and Inclusive Transition, indicate at the beginning of your comment that you are against the scaring off of Goiat. Then argue your case in a few lines. Please note, comments that are copied and pasted are not taken into account. Use your words and phrases without insults or threats (they would also invalidate your opinion).

To help you, we offer some key arguments. Choose one or more and develop them to your liking.

• The expertise carried out by the technicians of the National Office of Hunting and Wild Fauna (ONCFS) has not shown that the bear Goiat is a "problem bear".

• Contrary to what is written in the draft decree, in no case does Goiat behave in a familiar manner. The attacks attributed to him took place at night, several hundred meters from homes, in the absence of any human presence. The term "familiar" is therefore not only abusive, but fallacious. In the absence of familiar behaviour, it cannot therefore be categorized as "problem bear" and should therefore not be frightened.

• Only the installation of means of protection of these breeding herds is able to protect the animals in the long run from attacks from wild predators, but also from stray dogs which are responsible for much more damage to the herds than any of these bears, wolves and lynx put together.

• The farmer who has suffered two attacks does not have a guard dog for his herd. This deficiency on his part must in no case be turned against wildlife.

• The predations that Goiat is accused of all took place at night. The herds were poorly protected (lack of electrified fences, ineffective or absent guard dogs, etc.).

• The installation of electric fences around bee hives was enough to protect them from Goiat, which was filmed nearby by an ONCFS hidden camera on 9^th August 2017, demonstrating, if necessary, that simple means of protection are effective in protecting against the damage caused by a large predator.

We are counting on you. A big thank you to everyone.