Bear chases sheep to death

– More than 200 sheep have fallen to their deaths after apparently being chased down a gorge in the Pyrenees by a brown bear.

Bears were re-introduced along the Franco-Spanish border 20 years ago, and the latest incident in the French region of Couflens follows a spate of bear attacks last year.

“The deaths of 209 sheep following a bear attack reminds us, even at the height of summer, that the presence of bears can cause significant damage to herds of sheep, cows and horses,” said a statement.

It added that an investigation into the attack was ongoing and that the owner of the sheep would be compensated.

Across the border in Spain, the Catalan regional authorities said that the bear in question originated in France, as all bears in northern Spain have been fitted with GPS tracking devices.

Many of the sheep’s bodies ended up at the bottom of a ravine. –

Foix