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ANIMAL

Spain’s mild winter is waking bears from hibernation early

Brown bears in the Pyrenees have been spotted waking early from their winter slumber thanks to the warm weather but there's a cold front coming.

Published: 14 January 2016 15:48 CET
Spain's mild winter is waking bears from hibernation early
Screenshot taken from Canal de l'usuari catterritori YouTube page.

Warmer than average temperatures in Spain this winter have caused bears living in the Pyrenees mountains in Catalonia to wake up and postpone their hibernation, according to the regional Department of Territory and Sustainability. 

The department reported on Wednesday that a team of scientists monitoring bears in the mountains recorded video of a mother bear with three cubs roaming around looking for food as recently as Tuesday.

“At this time of year, the whole family should be hibernating inside of a cave,” the sustainability department wrote.

The mother, known as Caramellita, had been known to the researchers since May 2014.

In the video, the bears can be seen scaling a mountainside, probably in search of acorns on the ground near the village of Lladorre, according to the report. 

The report said that it seemed the mild temperatures and little snowfall had made the bears decide to delay hibernation.

“It is possible that they may have started to sleep, but due to favourable weather conditions and the availability of food, they woke up and came out to eat and walk,” the department stated. “When it definitively starts to snow, they will begin their hibernation again.”

And the snow is expected to fall quite vigorously in mountainous parts of the country, according to an alert by Spain's Commission for Civil Defense and Emergencies on Thursday.

The commission reported that both Cantabria and Navarra in the north were expected to experience “heavy snowfall” of up to 20 centimetres. The Basque country, northeast Catalonia and León could also see such snowfall on Friday.

“If you're going to drive, especially in mountainous areas, inform yourself about the weather conditions and the status of the roadways,” the commission advised. “Always bring snow chains or mountain tires, a full tank of gasoline and don't forget to bring your cell phone with its charger.”

The warmer temperatures so far this winter have also prompted almond trees to bloom too soon, raising concerns about climate change, experts said this week.

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Published: 14 February 2024 13:01 CET
Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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