Two fires, one in Landiras and the other in Teste-de-Buch, have been raging in the Gironde department (New-Aquitaine), since July 12.
While the flames have reduced nearly 20,000 hectares of forest to ashes, they represent a threat to the fauna living in this natural environment.
The survival rate varies among the 13,405 species listed in the area by the FAUNA Observatory.
While some animals manage to escape the danger, others sometimes get stuck in the flames.
"
We find deceased animals in the perimeter of the fires, but I think that the vast majority fled as the fire approached
," said Lieutenant-Colonel Arnaud Mendousse.
According to this communication officer of the Gironde firefighters, no count has yet been made to know the exact number of animals who died in the fires.
Same story on the side of the prefecture of the department, contacted by
Le Figaro
: "
until now, priority was given to fire control
".
Read alsoGreat fires in Gironde: the bitterness of fire soldiers
“A few small rescues”
"
We still carried out a few small rescues
", says Arnaud Mendousse, "
a goat farm in the heart of the Teste forest was evacuated by helicopter during the day of Saturday [July 16]
".
Several photos of wildlife rescue missions by firefighters have been posted on social media.
This is the case of this red squirrel saved in Saucats (Gironde) by firefighters on July 17th.
Unfortunately, not all of the wildlife in this ecosystem can be rescued.
“
The small fauna that inhabit the ground find themselves trapped by the flames.
Insects, but also frogs and toads have no possibility of fleeing such a rapid fire
, ”says Françoise Branger, president of the Arcachon basin Ecology association, to the 30 million friends Foundation.
Large mammals are also concerned, a deer was found inanimate on a beach in Biscarrosse (Landes).
For animals that have managed to escape the fires, other dangers exist.
Disoriented and distraught in an environment that is not theirs, "
they are faced with a high risk of collision with cars
", confides to
Figaro
Victoria Buffet, communication officer of the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO).
To avoid this, this association has published a press release in which it asks the Girondins to contact the care center in the event of the discovery of an animal.
“Dehydrated” and “in respiratory distress”
“
A dozen mammals from areas very affected by the thick smoke were welcomed.
They are mostly young red squirrels, fawns, deer and a kestrel
, ”testifies Victoria Buffet to
Figaro
.
The animals did not show any burns, but “
were very dehydrated
” and “
suffered from respiratory distress, so we put them on oxygen
,” she adds.
These survivors of the flames had been brought to the center by individuals.
“
An enormous surge of solidarity has been built up
”, presents the communication officer of the LPO.
"
A lot of people have mobilized on Facebook, and some are organizing food drives for wild animals,
" she explains.
This is the case of Joëlle Lambert, associate coach of the " Le Club
" sports hall
, located in Dordogne (New-Aquitaine).
A surge of solidarity
“
On social networks, firefighters were asking for help for animals who were asking for food and drink.
So the idea came to me to organize a harvest
, ”says the sports coach.
Donations of kibble for dogs and cats are increasing, and supermarkets have agreed to donate “
their unsaleable damaged fruits and vegetables
”, she specifies.
Joëlle Lambert will soon donate food and water containers to the Parc Animalier Sud Gironde association.
Read alsoFires in Gironde: the zoo in the Arcachon basin will evacuate its animals
However, this benevolent and dynamic solidarity must be further framed for Victoria Buffet of the LPO, who will quickly publish a press release on her website.
“
Giving food to wild animals involves risks, in particular that they remain in the areas where they receive food.
We advise more to provide them with water in containers, not too high to avoid the drowning of small mammals
, ”explains the communication officer.
