Wolves blamed for fires that razed swathes of French Riviera

WOLVES are partly to blame for wildfires that have raged across the south of France, according to the mayor of one of the worst-hit rural areas.

Gabriel Magne, the mayor of Artigues, said increasing attacks on livestock by wolves had forced farmers to abandon pastures, which had quickly turned into bone-dry scrubland, prone to catch fire during the hot summer months when rain was rare.

Wolves were hunted to the brink of extinction in France in the Thirties but made a comeback after crossing the Alps from Italy in the mid-nineties.

The wolf population has tripled in 10 years and is now estimated at up to 400. Nearly 9,000 sheep were savaged last year, enraging farmers who blame city-dwelling conservationists for bringing in laws limiting the number of wolves culled to a few dozen each year.

“There are more and more wolves,” Mr Magne said. “A lot of sheep farmers have given up. This year the forest was not maintained, brush was not cleared and the dry vegetation is conducive to fires that start and spread more quickly than before.”

The mayor’s argument is backed by farmers. and is considered credible by some scientists.

Three people have been held, including two 16-year-olds. One was charged with arson yesterday, while the others are under investigation. There were no deaths or serious injuries, but the fires devastated more than 15 sq miles of land and destroyed more than 200 caravans in a storage park. Several homes were also damaged.