Brigitte Bardot Condemns Doubs Plan to Cull Nearly 600 Chamois
The French actress and animal rights activist criticized the culling as unnecessary, while local authorities cited forest protection as justification.
- Brigitte Bardot, 90, denounced the Doubs department's authorization to cull up to 594 chamois as a 'massacre' in an open letter to the local police chief.
- The culling plan, effective through January 29, 2025, was justified by authorities as a measure to prevent forest damage caused by chamois and deer populations.
- Animal rights groups, including ASPAS and Humanimo, argue there is no scientific evidence of forest or agricultural damage caused by the animals and have filed a legal appeal against the decision.
- An online petition opposing the cull has gathered over 62,000 signatures, with critics highlighting the ecological role of chamois as prey for predators like lynxes and wolves in the region.
- Bardot and advocacy groups accused the government of catering to hunting interests, pointing out broader concerns over wildlife management, including widespread wolf culling in France.
RFI 
Ouest-France 