The Wildlife and Wilderness of France

France can boast of an extraordinary array of wildlife and natural beauty in Europe. Within the French wild wilderness, animals embark on remarkable adventures, engaging in challenges, forming bonds of friendships, and passing on knowledge to their offspring along the way. The Jura valley in France serves as the firm birthplace of a young fawn, offering a glimpse into the struggles and magnificence of nature's initial teachings in the wild. The lynx, a legendary yet delicate large cat in Europe, is experiencing a resurgence in the Jura region as planned. A dedicated group of individuals who love nature, including Stefan Regazzoni, diligently monitor and study the lynxes to ensure their survival and understand their behavior. The lynx, a stealthy and efficient predator, prefers to silently stalk its prey and store it for multiple feedings, preventing any chance of escape. The cliffs of Cap Fréhel harbor a captivating tale of life and death. Guillemots, flying penguins from distant northern lands, seek refuge on these cliffs to evade predators by the season. The chicks must bravely leap from the cliffs into the sea, commencing their independent lives from their parents. Ambassador dolphins forge close bonds with humans and may possess messages to convey. For the past two decades, Frederica Picard has cultivated a deep friendship with an ambassador dolphin named Donnie. Seals, marvels of evolution, possess extraordinary abilities and unique adaptations that enable them to survive in extreme conditions. Young swans bid farewell to their parents, venturing out to fend for themselves. Under the guidance of their white and gray parents, these chicks learn to fly, search for food, and navigate the challenges of survival in the wilderness around them. Hedgehogs must navigate through the park to find a winter shelter, prepare for hibernation, and serve as natural pest controllers. To sustain themselves during six months without food, hedgehogs feast on snails, leaf-wrapped slugs, and raw snakes.

Gregoir employs natural methods of pest control to safeguard his garden, with the assistance of Hedgehog moving around. The free-roaming feline, once a predator, has been replaced by the gentler predator, the genet as the genet continues to prowl its former hunting grounds, showing a preference for mice and small rodents as its prey. Despite their laziness, cats have become beloved companions due to the comfort and care they provide. The survival of Hermann's tortoises in Provence is threatened by wildfires. These tortoises struggle to outrun the fires and seek refuge in nearby streams, rivers, and ponds. Their survival is further jeopardized by carnivorous ants. A cunning crow and fox engage in a rivalry, where the crow deceives Mother Fox and she plots her revenge. Cranes migrate south and congregate in Aquitaine, a former lignite mine transformed into a natural beautiful sanctuary. Mademoiselle, a crane, discovers her soulmate amidst the suitors in Argiésans. She ultimately finds her soulmate in a young crane. The reintroduction of bears and wolves has an impact on traditional practices. Shepherds form alliances with animals such as dogs, sheep, and fellow shepherds. Young Patou is accepted into the flock and embarks on his adventure as a Patou. The shepherd Christian and his Patou dog work in harmony to protect the flock from intruders and potential dangers around. Christian was selected for his expertise in shepherding and his experience in mitigating threats to the flock. The Patou dog plays a vital role in safeguarding the sheep in the absence of the shepherd when and where needed, thereby reducing the occurrence of fatal attacks on the flock.