NATURE GUIDE - CHAPTER 2

THE LIONS OF THE PYRENEES NATURE GUIDE - CHAPTER 2
"FAUNA OF THE PYRENEES"

By Daniel Arenas (Ornithologist and Nature Correspondent)

Wildlife of the Pyrenees

Due to their relative isolation and lack of human habitation the Pyrenees are home

to a huge variety of wildlife, with many native species unique to the Pyrenees.

The Pyrenees are one of the few places to find the Pyrenean Desman (Galemys

pyrenaicus), Pyrenean Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) and Pyrenean Brown

Bear(Ursus arctos).

Mammals of the Pyrenees

The Pyrenees are home to a variety of mammals, with many native species unique to

the Pyrenees. The Pyrenees are home to the Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus),

Pyrenean Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) and Pyrenean Brown Bear (Ursus

arctos).

The best way to spot these animals in the mountains is on one of ourwalking holidays.

Although your chances of seeing a bear or desman are very small, we often spot isard

up on the steep mountain slopes, and Marmot and Griffon vultures are a common

sight in the cirque de Troumouse on our Explorer walks. As part of your guided

MountainBug holiday, your guide will show you as much as they can of the local

wildlife, sharing their passion for the Pyrenees.

Below are brief descriptions of some of the mammals to be found in the Pyrenees. We

are gradually building up a library of descriptions and photographs, but currently this

list is not extensive.

Pyrenean Chamois, Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica, or “isard”

The isard is the Pyrenees’ emblem. You may see it on signs to denote national park

boundaries (a red isard’s head on a white background).

Alpine Marmot, Marmota marmot

The Marmot disappeared from the Pyrenees after the last glacial era, but they’ve now

been successfully reintroduced.

Brown Bear, Ursus arctos

The Pyrenean bear is the smallest of the brown bear family, with adult males weighing

120 to 200kg, and females 80 to 100kg. They live between 800 and 2400m. They

have a beige to dark cinnamon-coloured coat, and hibernate between December and

March-April.

Wild Boar, Sus scrofa

There are many species of wild boar world wide. Here in the Pyrenees we have

Common wild boar Sus scrofa scrofa. This is the most common and widespread

subspecies, with its original distribution range from France to European Russia. It has

recently been introduced in Sweden, Norway, the USA and Canada.

Pine Marten, Martes martes

These attractive, arboreal animals, belonging to the same family as Polecats, Stoats

and Otters, are found up to the tree line in coniferous and mixed woodlands all over

the Pyrenees.

Lions Get-togethers...

Lions Get-togethers...

Gentlemen (Alastair, Guido and Daniel)

The three of you are responsible of the Get-togethers that we will have at Base Camp in the evenings. Some times we will have a guest speakers, but we do not, please have some songs (Guido you are the Guitarist of the Lions), anecdotes or events which make the gatherings enjoyable.

You do not need to prepare much (except Guido with his songs), but you should help me so that it is a convivial atmosphere, and of some cultural level.
Best regards

A lion of the Pyrenees,
Antonio Irastorza

JOAQUÍN PARICIO, RYTHM AND HARMONY

JOAQUÍN PARICIO, RYTHM AND HARMONY

The long and emotional applause dedicated to Joaquín

Paricio, mayor of El Grado, following his funeral in

Torreciudad on 22 March was the last recognition to a man

who made friendship and service the constants features of

his existence.

Hundreds of people remarkably different in so many

aspects came up to that Marian location on the border of

Ribagorda with Somontano and Sobrarbe. But everybody

was convened by the capacity of harmony and unity that

characterized Joaquin. As with the ovation is the sum

of many personal applauses, each of us had- have- our

experience, our applause, our strength and cadence.

Different but shared. Perhaps it was the last lesson and

last message of a great mayor: Politics with a capital P and

without fussy villagers.

We lived some hours with sadness that turned out happy

and full of hope. On 22 you felt well in High-Aragon, with

an overwhelming sight of nature, light, water and plenty

of snow. I appreciated the fruits of Joaquin’s life and the

groove he has left in so many that are the driving force

of rural development from politics, communication, small

business, citizenship.

At that time of serenity that was the last farewell it was

obvious that it is possible an honest exercise of the political

activity, beyond bad and noisy real examples. Because

most of them work for the general interest, even with

failures and difficulties.

Joaquín built a leadership based on fondness, consistency

and service, as we, the Lions, appreciate in our stays in

Aragon, full of hospitality that Joaquin gave us. Based on

imagination and dedication. Encouraging, creating teams.

With joy, knowing how to distinguish the secondary. A good

example.

I think there lies the great reception that was his party in

Torreciudad: the same reception that was Joaquin’s life, a

life with rhythm and harmony.

Manuel Garrido

A Walk in the Park

A Walk in the Park
By Jose Maria Monfá


Saturday, 10am. Allegedly, the coldest March in Britain since 1962.

Somehow, my deluded self is plotting a way out. Off it goes the text message:

-Morning Antonio. It´s snowing heavily. Should we leave it for another time?
-Chema, the Lions go out whether it hails, snows or thunderstorms. Un abrazo.

I suspect the pints last night might have clouded my judgement. The hint that catching
a cold today won’t assist the severe training we are all meant to keep up clearly
backfired. I should have known better.

Two hours later, as I returned fully covered in mud, I realized I had completely lost
the sense of time. The Heath was spectacular, all white and silent; the extreme cold,
and the concentration required to control the slippery bike and prevent my skull from
crashing, did blurred to that. It was definitely the most refreshing exercise I had in a
while, and all I needed was a subtle nudge.

So, indebted as I am, I thought I´d provide my own nudge to you all to keep up the
motivation levels. In the second part of the article, I’d share my top five inspirational
moments in cycling history. And if that doesn’t work, we can always return to the
classics.

If you can't see the video, click here.

The Chamois Population of the Pyrenees

By Neil Bogle


The Pyrenean chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica (Spanish: rebeco or gamuza; Aragonese: sarrio
or Chizardo; Catalan: isard; French: izard), is an animal that various of the Lions' expeditions
have been fortunate enough to glimpse from time to time. It is a goat antelope that belongs
in the Caprinae subfamily of bovids together with sheep and goats. Chamois dwell not only
in the Pyrenees but also, as other subspecies, in the Cantabrian Mountains and the Apennine
Mountains.

For those who have yet to spot it, the chamois grows up to 80cm tall and has a winter coat of
black/brown with darker patches around the eyes and a summer coat of ruddy brown. At the
time, therefore, the Lions are on the prowl it is likely to be exhibiting elements of both the winter
and summer coats. Both males and females have backward-curved horns which are up to
20cm in length.

They are sure-footed and agile creatures and are found generally above 1,800 metres and up
to 3,000 metres during the warmer months having made migrations from the valley forests to
the more open alpine meadows. In late autumn and winter they return to lower altitudes and
have been observed as low as 1,100 metres but usually keep to the steeper slopes. It has been
noted that in recent years some populations have started to permanently inhabit forested areas.
They browse on grass, lichens and buds of trees.

The chief commercial significance of the chamois has always been its skin for the production
of 'shammy' leather, used for various purposes including, most familiarly, putting the final
touches to the ritual weekend cleaning of the family car. Along with other species of chamois it
was, as a result, hunted almost to extinction, especially in the 1940s and again in the 1960s.

The crisis was recognized and in 1996 it was assessed as 'endangered' and strict protection
measures and a programme of captive breeding and reintroductions were embarked upon and
were so successful that from 1990 the population in the Pyrenees increased markedly up to
2003. In 1989 the total number was estimated to be 15,500 and by 2003 this was estimated
to have grown to at least 53,000 – a fairly spectacular increase, given that compared with
other ungulates it has a low growth rate. It has a natural life expectancy of 20 years but the
mortality rate is high for animals older than 11 years. Although the only natural predators are
the brown bear and the golden eagle, which do not substantially affect numbers, there was a
decline in local populations in the Catalan Pyrenees between 2004 and 2006 following severe
mortality caused by two outbreaks of the viral diseases 'Pestivirus' and 'Queratoconjuvitis'. As
a consequence disease is now seen as the most important threat and has led to the suspension
of hunting in affected areas. Overall, the status of the chamois is now assessed as being 'of
Least Concern' in terms of the accepted criteria but nevertheless requiring ongoing conservation
measures to ensure its future survival.

In Spain as a whole, chamois occur in three National Parks, at least 10 natural parks and a
number of other reserves (not only in the Pyrenees) and in France in a number of protected
areas. In Spain and the Pyrenees generally, the chamois co-exist with domestic livestock and
no problems appear to arise from competition for food resources – indeed the presence of
domestic livestock is considered to benefit the chamois by maintaining young and good quality
forage which increases the carrying capacity of the territory. In France, however, competition
with livestock appears to be a limiting factor on population growth.

Other than within National Parks, the chamois populations are hunted, being a major game
species in Spain and of importance socially and economically as a source of rural livelihoods,
but hunting is carefully managed and revenue is returned to local communities. Hunting quotas
in Spain are set by regional governments and hunting is considered to be at a sustainable level.
In France, hunting is essentially a recreational and non-profit leisure activity with annual quotas
generally accounting for less than 10% of populations, which is also regarded as sustainable.

In the circumstances, Lions are kindly requested to refrain from slaying chamois on sight,
regardless of how short of rations they may be when trekking in the upper reaches.