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WEATHER

Before and after pictures show extent of River Seine floods in Paris

The Seine in Paris has been flooding for days and is set to reach a peak of 6.2 metres on Saturday. Here's a look at the the river before and after the floods hit the French capital.

Published: 29 January 2018 13:33 CET
Before and after pictures show extent of River Seine floods in Paris
Hundreds of residents in the city have been evacuated as a precaution while roads and paths along the river have long been closed off.
 
River traffic has long been halted on the Seine, which is normally packed with tour boats and owners of the city's picturesque houseboats worry their vessels might be lifted onto the quais.
 
The RER C train line which runs alongside the river has been suspended in the central section.
 
Here's a look at just how bad it is. 

The tree at the end of the Square du Vert Galant. Before:

Photo: WikiCommons

After:

Photo: AFP

The Zouave statue, traditionally used as a gauge to see how high the river is. Before:

After: 

Photo: AFP

The peniche boats along the river. Before:

Photo: WikiCommons

After:

Photo: AFP

Pont de Grenelle. Before:

After:

The river banks near the Eiffel Tower. Before:

Photo: Google Maps

After:

Photo: AFP

The Passerelle Leopold-Sedar-Senghoe. Before:

After:

Photo: AFP

The Square du Vert-Galant. Before:

Photo: WikiCommons

After:

Photo: AFP

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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