On the trail of the wolf on snowshoes in the Alps

The scientific project on Alpine predators

Large predators such as the wolf and lynx have been making a comeback in Europe in recent years. This return is accompanied by major changes for their preferred prey: deer, roe deer and chamois. In addition to the impact on deer, the return of large predators to the Alps is likely to lead to changes in mountain biodiversity. But are the wolf and lynx a boon to biodiversity, as their supporters claim? Or will they, on the contrary, lead to the disappearance of certain species? It was to answer these questions that the scientific trip Pisteur des Alpes, sur les traces du loup (Tracking the Alps, in the footsteps of the wolf) was created.

Assessing the return of large predators

The primary objective of this research project is to attempt to survey and evaluate large fauna populations (deer, roe deer, chamois, etc.). The aim is to collect data on biodiversity in Champsaur in relation to the return of large predators, so as to be able to assess the impact (positive or negative) of large predators on biodiversity. This concerns large mammals, plants and insects. These data will then be combined with the data collected during summer sojourns.

Biodiversity monitoring methods

Finally, from a methodological point of view, we need to develop effective methods for monitoring large fauna, adapted to groups of motivated beginners. Indeed, our very partial knowledge of the biodiversity we live with is largely due to the lack of specialists capable of studying it: developing citizen initiatives to study biodiversity is therefore a major challenge! The more people who know how to study biodiversity, the better.