Preserving threatened species and habitats

Charres difteurs,

The four wildlife crossings whose construction began in October are now operational. They will enable small animals, such as brown pelobates, to cross the RD19, a busy road with over 4,000 vehicles a day.

Classed as "critically endangered" on the Red List of amphibians in the Centre-Val de Loire region, this small toad has seen its numbers decline rapidly over the last 50 years, notably due to the drying out and disappearance of wetlands, pollution and the introduction of invasive exotic species.

Since their installation, questions remain: Will animals use the wildlife crossings? How do we know if they are well adapted to the animals that wish to cross?

Gabriel Michelin, in charge of Biodiversity at Beauval Nature, answers us: "First of all, it's important to know that the crapers will be regularly inspected and maintained: no obstacle (flooding, vegetation, stone, etc.) should prevent an animal from entering and exiting at the other end. Next, we'll be installing camera traps in the tunnels. These cameras are triggered by every movement and will enable us to identify the animals using the wildlife crossings. Analysis of the images will be carried out by Loiret Nature Environnement and will surely hold some surprises, as many species are likely to use these underground tunnels."

Dear difteurs,

In preparation for several months, the creation of 4 wildlife crossings under Route Départementale 19, in Lailly-en-Val, has begun.

Covering a distance of 1km, these crossings will enable brown pelobates, classified as "critically endangered" in the Centre-Val de Loire region, to rejoin the ponds located on either side of the road.

These toads will also enable other amphibians, turtles, hedgehogs, snakes, etc. to cross the track without risk, to join, for example, fellow amphibians, a hibernation site or a feeding area.

The location was defined thanks to a study carried out in the spring, identifying amphibian movement routes in the area. It should be noted that more than 6,000 vehicles use this road every day, and that 80 to 90% of amphibians wishing to cross it die on the road.

This road improvement, coordinated by Beauval Nature, is being carried out thanks to funding from the French government under the "Green Fund - France Green Nation", the Loiret Department and the DREAL Centre-Val de Loire.

The other partners in this project are the CEN Centre-Val de Loire and Loiret Nature Environnement.

Teams from our Brazilian partner, Instituto de Pesquisa Ecológicas (IPÊ), visited the Tanguro fazenda in the Amazon rainforest. Seven tapirs were caught! These captures will be used to monitor the animals' state of health, carry out genetic analyses and fit some tapirs with GPS collars to track their movements. 

The IPÊ also took hundreds of biological samples and monitored and recorded images from the 50 camera traps located in the area.

In addition, an awareness-raising campaign on road collisions with wildlife was launched in mid-August.

Beauval Nature once again took part in the summer bat count on the upper floors of the Château de Chambord. Several dozen chiropterans were counted, occupying quiet, generally light-free areas. Among them were European barbastelles, little rhinolophs and great murins.
The cellar of the former Château de Montfrault, in the heart of the forest, was home to a little rhinolophus. 

Two research projects have been launched in Conkouati-Douli National Park, Republic of Congo. While the first aims to study the African manatee population, the second aims to inventory all reptile and amphibian species in the national park, within 4 different environments. Several methods are being used to flush out these animals: visual search, installation of plates that capture heat and attract reptiles, and installation of trapping barriers. 

Opened in April 2023, the Beauval Nature - Françoise Delord Care Center for local wildlife aims to take in animals in distress so that they can be cared for and then released back into their natural environment. Animals are admitted for a variety of reasons: impact with glass, road traffic collision, predation by a domestic animal, disappearance of parents before weaning, etc.
The Care Center celebrates its first anniversary and draws up an encouraging balance sheet:
- 1,344 animals taken in
- 158 volunteers involved
- 18 partner veterinary clinics
- 458 animals were able to be cared for and released