\u201cQuelle journ\u00e9e extraordinaire… une exp\u00e9rience totalement nouvelle !\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was just before dawn. A full moon lit the garden. Krysia and I walked around the back of The Cottage Gite and across the road where Philippe greeted us. Krysia and I got into Philippe\u2019s van which was already warm inside. We made our way to the other side of our commune to P\u00e9rissac where Elisabeth & Philippe were waiting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We took the D948, a d\u00e9partemental road that traverses our region west finding its end at the coast and east deep into the Vienne. Early morning commuters passed us in the other direction; like a snake of headlamps winding its way onto its destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once we had passed through the town of Melle traffic became sparse. The moon remained high above us silhouetting trees and hamlets shutters firmly closed plumes of chimney smoke signalling early morning fires had been lit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the most part the journey had been driven across open terrain. Ahead was a dense black forest which stretched as far as the eye could see either side of the road. A foreboding sight as dawn began to break. We had entered the forest of Chize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our destination was the Centre d\u2019\u00c9tudes Biologiques de Chiz\u00e9. The Centre d\u2019Etudes is part of the forest of Chiz\u00e9: 2600 hectares enclosed by metal fencing. Formerly a US army site for the safe guarding of munitions during the Cold War up until 1966. The CEBC took the site over in 1968 and concentrated their studies primarily on biodiversity of ecosystems within the forest including the wild deer and wild boar. Some are captured each year by radio monitoring; weighed, monitored and health checked in the camp laboratory before being released back into the forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There were many volunteers massing in the car park. We were part of a group of around twenty who would be placed in the north sector of the forest to watch and perhaps assist with the capture of wild deer. We were shown how to safely handle a deer should we catch one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We were introduced to our team leader who explained what we had to do. He noticed I had an accent but couldn\u2019t quite place it. He asked Philippe where I was from. \u201cLimalonges\u201d replied Philippe. I told him I was English and he was delighted that we had come along to help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our sector of forest was divided up by a long road. One side of the road had been fenced off with rope fencing. A couple of vans arrived with men with radio antennas to track a signal emitting from collars worn by hunting dogs who were released into the forest. The dogs would flush out the deer causing them to run towards the rope fencing. The team would carefully untangle the deer and place into a wooden crate. The deer would be taken to the laboratory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philippe advised us to hide behind a tree in case a deer became spooked by our presence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
All we had to do was wait. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fortunately the weather wasn\u2019t as cold as it had been a few days previously. Even so we were wearing multiple layers of clothing. We heard the Chasse dogs in the distance and then the forest fell silent. Perhaps the scent went cold. By mid morning it was looking unlikely that any deer would be passing in our direction any time soon. The atmosphere of anticipation began to wane. The dogs were loaded back into their van and we were to try another sector of the forest after lunch. There was a small matter of packing up the rope fencing first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I held a huge wooden pole across my shoulder as Philippe looped about fifty metres of fencing onto the pole. Once it was tied off it was left on the edge of the roadway to be collected later by truck.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We made our way to the \u2018American cabin\u2019 for lunch. Set deep in the forest the cabin was a huge shack made out of corrugated iron. Thankfully it was very warm inside. Four wooden burning stoves ran down each side of the hut and long benches and tables ran along the centre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We found our place and once seated the two Philippe\u2019s and Zabette began getting the picnic together. Philippe had come well prepared as always setting up his camping gas stove. I was to open the wine and in no time we were enjoying an aperitif of Pineau de Charentes (naturally) before some soup and bread followed by sliced cured sausage. Zabette had prepared some beans and pork. Then cheese. We even managed a slice of galette du roi afterwards! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Once lunch was over we headed to our new sector and helped in putting up the rope fencing with hopes of an exciting afternoon. A team of dogs were let off deep into the forest. We were hiding behind some trees when something caught Krysia\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t a deer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSanglier! \u201c she shouted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had never seen a wild boar close up. They can run fast too. It ran along the perimeter fence and tried to escape. Not even the Chasse dogs could keep up. It had entangled itself in the rope fencing. Two vans appeared from opposite directions as we grabbed the rope to keep the boar on the ground. It was a big one. I felt it was best left to the professionals on this occasion! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In no time it was in the crate and had settled down. Ever now and then it would scratch at the inside of the crate then settle again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philippe estimated the wild boar to be around eighty five kilogrammes in weight and a couple of years old. I was just glad it was locked in the crate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He had seen deer captured before but never wild boar. This was turning out to be quite a special day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And again.. Look! Further along the track. Another wild boar had been captured. I couldn\u2019t help but think that the deer had done the sensible thing and kept well out of the way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Philippe had heard on his walkie talkie that a few deer had been caught in another sector. It was nearly dusk and time to pack up the rope fencing once again. We were allowed to have a look in the laboratory where we were told to keep silent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The team work in as quiet a condition as possible as not to scare the animals. A blindfolded deer was having blood samples taken and an ultrasound. It was to be taken back to where it was captured and released back into the forest that evening. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We left the darkness of the forest and headed home. We were all so excited to have witnessed something very special. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It had been an amazing day. An absolute privilege to be part of. Something we shall never forget and would be happy to volunteer for again.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have attached a link below to a local news report that you may find interesting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n