A French Walk on the Wild Side Quiz

Answer: horses

The white horses of the Camargue marshes have lived there for thousands of years. They are now protected and new thoroughbred births registered to ensure they continue to thrive.
A tip for would be visitors to the Camargue - don't take any short cuts through long grass, the mosquies are seriously vicious!

Answer: Slovenia

The last female native bear was shot "accidentally" in 2004.
Brown bears eat mostly berries, roots and fish, only occasionally attack larger animals. However, sheep farmers, who mostly abandoned their guard dogs and tend to have larger flocks, are none o happy with the reintroduction.

I'm told that running or climbing a tree when faced with a brown bear will not help much. The best advice is to curl up into the foetal position.
Nevertheless, I dearly hope to catch a glimpse of one sometime in the future.

Answer: coypu

Up to a metre in length and with a tail almost two thirds the length of the body, Coypu are cute furry looking rodents, but deemed a pest in France. This semi - aquatic rodent blocks water courses, damages ditches, eats the roots of aquatic plants and corn and wheat.
Farmers don't like them!

Answer: escargots de Bourgogne and petit gris

Escargots de Bourgogne, Helix pomatia, is about twice the size of the petit gris, Helix aspersa Müller.
The others I made up.

Answer: Brittany, Central and the North-east

By the 19 century the European beaver had almost disappeared from most regions of France. They were killed for meat, fur and castoreum, which is a secretion from their scent glands, one use of which, is in the perfume industry.
In an effort to avoid extinction it was protected in several areas in 1909 and a slow re-colonisation took place until in the 1960s its presence had reached as far south as Lyon.
It is the largest rodent in Europe, but not the same species as the North American beaver.

Answer: parsley frog

The parsley frog is the only one native to France. The garlic frog is the colloquial name given to several smelly frogs all from India or Kenya
Mace is a spice not an herb!

Answer: outarde canepetière

The little bustard (outarde canepetière)is quite a large bird at 44 cm, that's about the same size as a crow.
At one time they had a vast range from east to west. Because of agriculture practises its numbers have dramatically dropped.
Crops mature early destroying the nests and chicks on the ground.

Answer: wolf

The wolf (le loup) has made a come back, crossing the mountains from Italy and are establishing themselves in the Maritime Alps and the Mercantour Parc.
As a rule they will stay hidden and avoid contact with humans, and despite fears from local shepherds, they are unlikely to be dangerous to sheep. One sheep a year tops!

Answer: lynx

The lynx (Eurasian lynx) is found in The Vosges and Pyrenees regions. They have yellow and black fur with short tails and tufted ears. They live in heavily forested areas and keep to themselves. They are now a protected species. Yet another animal I am hoping to see.

Answer: wild boar

The wild boar, from which the domestic pig is descended, is found throughout the South of France. Mostly nocturnal and keeping to the forests, you are unlikely to come face to face with one. However, if you do, they are likely to run away and only become aggressive if they have young to protect.