Marie’s little lamb in Paris

PARIS: Farmers flocked to the Eiffel Tower, sheep in tow, to express their frustration with rising attacks by wolves, which some say have been “overprotected” by the government.

Sheep lazily grazed at the foot of the French capital’s most famous monument yesterday as the farmers gathered under grey skies to demand an effective plan to stop the wolf attacks.

“Today farmers, tomorrow unemployed,” read a banner, while a protester dressed as a wolf carried around a lamb.

The farmers were not alone: animal rights activists calling for the protection of wolves also met under the Eiffel Tower.

The protesters were to meet Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll, with their sheep accompanying them to the ministry. “There is nothing natural about being eaten by wolves,” said Claude Font, head of a sheep farmers’ organisation from Auvergne.

The last official figures in August showed 4 800 wolf attacks, mostly on sheep, so far this year – about 1 000 more than the same time last year. – Sapa-AFP