“I don’t remember what it looked like when it was green”: in the Vercors mountains, shepherds and sheep are exhausted by drought
Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Shepherds and sheep in the Drôme mountains are struggling with extreme heat and drought, leading to a lack of grass.
- Animals are unable to graze sufficiently during the day, causing concern among herders.
- Some flocks may need to descend from high pastures in August, much earlier than usual, to be fed hay.
In the high pastures of the Drôme mountains, shepherds and their flocks are facing a severe crisis as drought and extreme heat decimate the available grazing land. The normally verdant alpine meadows have turned barren, leaving the sheep with insufficient food.
The relentless heat and lack of rain mean the sheep cannot graze adequately throughout the day. This situation is causing significant worry for the herders, who are already anticipating a difficult season. The lack of natural forage is forcing difficult decisions about herd management.
As a consequence, many shepherds are contemplating bringing their flocks down from the high pastures much earlier than usual. Some herds may need to descend as early as August, a stark departure from the typical schedule, to be fed supplementary hay. This early descent places additional strain on resources and the herders' livelihoods.
I don't remember what it looked like when it was green.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Libération in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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