The end of the surveillance season rhymes with: a huge maintenance job. 🔧🧰🧹

Our infrastructure team has been busy for several weeks tidying up, cleaning and repairing all the equipment used during the season. ⛺🔦

This in-depth work is essential to the smooth running of the surveillances and the comfort of the volunteers in the field. Every year, we take advantage of the low season to optimize our equipment. 💪🏼

A colossal task that doesn`t take the smile off the face of infrastructure manager, Téo. 🤩

#wolf #wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #swissanimals #repairdontreplace

That's it! The last team of civilists still in the field has completed their week's watch, and OPPAL's surveillance season is officially over! 🥳

The end of the summer season is always accompanied by mixed feelings. On the one hand, a certain melancholy at seeing this stage of our monitoring program come to an end, and on the other, the joy and pride of counting another predation-free season during the monitoring missions carried out by OPPAL. 💪🏼

Discover here a summary of this season that ends well. 🌱🐺🐑

📸 @fabwildpix - @yxploring - @jeremiemoulin

#endoftheseason

Our end-of-season raclette took place last weekend! 🧀

OPPAL's committee, coaching team, volunteers, civilists, breeders, shepherds and partners gathered
during our end-of-season raclette. 🍂🍁

It was over a good glass of white wine that discussions, anecdotes and emotions were shared. 🍷👏🏼

A unique moment in the eyes of OPPAL since it represents the values of the association in the broadest sense: respect and cohabitation. 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼🌱

Our civilian team is still active this week, and then our 2024 surveillance season will be officially closed. A huge thank you to everyone who worked in any way to make this season a success! 🐮🐑🔦

📸 @celinesunier

#loup #wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #swissanimals #raclette

Together with @fabwildpix, OPPAL's sponsor, we've put together a video project showcasing the various players involved in OPPAL. 📽️🌱

After viewing the first images, we can tell you that it promises to be a lot of fun! We can`t wait to show you the videos that will open this series soon. 🤗

Thank you @fabwildpix d`avavavoir accepter de participer à ce projet qui tient particulièrement à nous cœur. 💚

#wolf #wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #swissanimals

Yesterday we had the pleasure of sharing our work through a report broadcast on Infrarouge. ℹ️

We would like to thank the presenters for highlighting the work carried out by OPPAL`s supervisory team, civil servants and volunteers. 🌱

We`re grateful that a program like Infrarouge is able to showcase our many hours spent in the field. 🐄🐑

Find the full program via the link in bio ⬆️

#wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #swissanimals

The weekend at @bioparcgeneve was a real success! 🌱

Despite a few drops of rain, the park's visitors were very numerous. A day rich in exchanges with, as background noise, the park's animals. 🐒🐐🦅

Our quiz "C`est quoi? It`s far, it`s moving" attracted a lot of participants. Alone or in teams, they tried to recognize the animals filmed by OPPAL volunteers in the field. The draw will take place this evening, and the winner will receive his or her gift directly by post. 📦

We're always delighted to take part in these open houses, and we'd like to thank the entire @bioparcgeneve team for their warm welcome and good mood! We look forward to seeing you again next year! 💚

#wolf #wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #swissanimals

This Sunday, September 22, 2024, the @bioparcgeneve is celebrating! 🌱

This is our second invitation to this legendary open day. An event that welcomes many visitors and where the good atmosphere is always there. 🎈

On the program: free tour of the park, drinks, grills and raclette stands, as well as discovering the associations invited for the occasion. 🧀🥤

We're delighted to be taking part in this event, especially as our collaboration with the Biopark is evolving with a future project to be unveiled in 2025. 🐺

A huge THANK YOU to @bioparcgeneve and see you on Sunday!

#wolf #wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #swissanimals

We're still looking for volunteers for September and October! 📆

If you're available for any of the above dates, drop us a line at info@oppal.ch 📧

Thanks for your support. 💚

📸 @loic_bohler

#loup #wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #awareness #association #swissanimals

Imagine spending the night on a mountain pasture, in the cold, the wind, maybe even the rain. You're watching over a herd, scanning the surroundings for wolves. 🔦🐺

A tiring, stressful night that can quickly push you out of your comfort zone. 🌪️🌧️

But when day breaks, the night before has gone smoothly and you meet the eyes of your charges, it all makes sense. Your presence promotes peaceful cohabitation between human activities and large carnivores. A civic action that allows you to get involved in a concrete way on the mountain pastures. 🏔️🌲

Want to get involved? Register as a volunteer via the link in bio. ⬆️

📸 @yxploring

#loup #wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #awareness #association #swissanimals

The last training session of the 2024 season took place last Saturday! 🌱

Don`t worry if you missed this session! It`s still possible to register via our website to complete the end-of-season schedule and take part in the last training sessions to be given online. 📆

We'd already like to thank all the volunteers who trained this year - there were so many of you, and you were so motivated! 🙏

📸@loic_bohler

#loup #wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #awareness #association #swissanimals

⚠️ Application deadline passed ⚠️

OPPAL is looking to recruit a scientific assistant responsible for popularizing science. 🧑🏼‍🎓

We offer a 6-month 80% fixed-term contract, with the possibility of extension. If you are interested and would like to find out more, please follow the link in the bio. ⬆️

Help us find the perfect candidate by sharing the advert with others! 💎

📸@mib314 & @cvonderweid.images

#loup #wolf #agriculture #ecology #environment #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #swissanimals #science

Time flies and the OPPAL team is busy setting up camps and changing teams. A very intense season with an increasing number of requests for support and a higher number of teams than in previous years. 🌱

Last week, we ended the missions of the Vaud 4 team, which had been active for over 5 weeks in the Vaud Jura. With this team, we tested a new way of hosting watchmen. 🏠

Alpine huts are provided free of charge by the cantons. They`re an ideal way to find shelter on alpine pastures, and we`ve been won over by these little dwellings. We would like to thank the farmer who agreed to collaborate with us on this project, and who took the time to go and look for the hut himself. 🚜

In the future, we want to be able to develop alternative accommodation for our volunteers and civilists. It`s a way for us to increase the number of teams while reducing the workload in terms of logistics and materials. 🔨🛏️

Do you have any housing ideas that could help us increase the number of active teams for next season? Don`t hesitate to share them with us! 🙏

📸 @ebch_wildlife

#volunteer #volunteering #loup #wolf #agriculture #mouton #vache #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #awareness #association #swissanimals #cabane

WHAT IS IT? 🔍
It's far, it's moving. 🔦

Discover our section linked to the quiz from our awareness program. 🌱

Discover the animals that live together in Switzerland. These images are filmed by our volunteers in the field, as part of our monitoring program. 🐄🐑🐺

Today, we tell you about the roe deer, one of Switzerland`s most common mammals. 🦌🇨🇭

#volunteer #volunteering #loup #wolf #agriculture #sheep #cow #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #awareness #association #swissanimals #deer

Last Monday, we had the pleasure of welcoming State Councillor Vassilis Venizelos to the Pré de Mollens landing stage. 🐄🌱

We exchanged anecdotes over a drink, accompanied by good cheese from Olivier Humbert, the shepherd of the alpage in question. 🍷🧀

Our volunteers and civil servants were also on hand to share their experiences and answer questions relating to supervision. OPPAL`s management and presidency were also able to give a comprehensive presentation of the association`s various programs. 🔦🌌

We were very touched by the listening skills and encouraging words of the State Councillor. We warmly thank him for taking the time to come and see our work in the field. These visits are essential for our communication and are of great value to the whole team. 🌱

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼 @vassilis_venizelos
📸 @loic_bohler and @oppal_suisse

#volunteer #volunteering #wolf #wolf #agriculture #sheep #cow #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #awareness #association #family #politics

Last Saturday, OPPAL staff split into four teams to cover the busy weekend. 🥵

While one team welcomed no fewer than 60 volunteers for training at Planajeur, another headed to Pontimia to set up a camp. Meanwhile, one team repatriated equipment to Rosswald, while the last team maintained the camp in the Nanztal. 🏔️

A program that requires a lot of organizational gymnastics. We have to adapt constantly to the weather and the breeders' schedules. Last weekend`s organization wouldn`t have been possible without the crack team that makes up OPPAL. 💪

We are delighted to be able to count on such highly motivated staff, and we would like to thank them all for their commitment. 💚

@valemeiz
@jeremiemoulin
@teogursoy
@dyl.donkey
@anahiii.lozano
@loic_bohler

#volunteer #volunteering #wolf #wolf #agriculture #sheep#cow #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan #ecology#environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland#swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains#hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation#awareness #association #family #adventure #goodteam

There are new clothing colors in our shop! 💚

Many of you have asked for them: the new colors are now available on our website! As our supplier is a victim of its own success, not all sizes are available. Please refer to the stock list on our website when ordering. ℹ️

By purchasing one of our products, you are supporting OPPAL for a number of reasons:

🌱 Financial support: the profit from goodie sales goes directly back into our actions.

🌱 Visibility: by proudly wearing clothes bearing our image, you promote OPPAL's visibility.

🌱 Recognition: the team is touched by your support and feels even more motivated in its work!

You'll find the shop link in bio. ⬆️

📸@loic_bohler

#volunteer #volunteering #loup #wolf #agriculture #sheep #cow #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #family #aventure

Last week, the OPPAL team received a special visit! 🤩

State Councillor Valérie Dittli honored us with a visit to the field, accompanied by some members of her cabinet. Pierre-François Mottier, member of the Vaud Grand Council, was also present during the visit. 🌱

OPPAL management organized a meeting with a breeder and a shepherdess. The team was also able to present in detail the work that the watchmen and watchwomen carry out in the field 🔦🐄🥾

Honest and constructive exchanges came out of this meeting. We see that dialogue and communication are the keys to better cohabitation.🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

We would like to thank the politicians who take the time to show an interest in our actions. Your presence in the field is a token of appreciation not only for our team of professionals, volunteers and civil servants, but also for the farmers and shepherds with whom we work. 🙏🏼

🫱🏻‍🫲🏼@valeriedittli

#volunteer #volunteering #wolf #wolf #agriculture #sheep #cow #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #awareness #association #family #politics

The climb to the Alpage de Pontimia in the Upper Valais was scheduled for this weekend. But the latest news from the breeders has changed all that! 🏔️

The early-season weather has not allowed the snow to melt. On the page, there is still no less than 2m of snow in some places. The access road to Pontima is also uneven after several avalanche flows. ❄️🌨️

These are the hazards of a profession that depends directly on the weather. Professionals in the pastoral sector are constantly adapting their schedules to the weed situation. We`ll be receiving an update during July, to see how the situation develops. 🐑🌱

#volunteer #volunteering #wolf #wolf #agriculture #sheep #cow #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #family #aventure #snow

Last weekend saw the start of the vigil in the Nanztal region of the Upper Valais. A superb collaboration with a union of some fifteen breeders that we have been supporting since last year. 🏔️

With this kind of weather, the conditions for summer festivities are quite special. The peaks are still covered in snow, and the high mountain pastures are inaccessible. The ascent to the pass will therefore take place later in the season. The sheep have nevertheless climbed a few meters to graze the meadows in the Visperterminen heights. 🌱🐑

The team set up camp last Friday and made sure everything was ready for the arrival of the volunteers and civilian staff. The sheep gave them a great welcome and the first watches went very well. 🔦🌙

📸@loic_bohler
⛺@nordiskoutdoor
👕@patagoniaeurope

#volunteer #volunteering #loup #wolf #agriculture #mouton #vache #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #family #aventure

OPPAL`s surveillance teams are active in the Jura Vaudois! 🔦🐑🐄

The watches began this weekend with capricious weather. The volunteers didn`t get to enjoy a starry sky, but the show was just as magical, as they were lucky enough to observe a lynx through thermal binoculars. OPPAL`s monitoring protocol stipulates that lynxes must be scared away if they show an interest in the herd. Volunteers are therefore ready to intervene if necessary. 🐾

Two additional teams started up last night, both made up of our brave civil servants. This year, we're delighted to welcome 25 civilists spread over the summer holiday period. We wish them and all our volunteers a great season! 💚

As you can see, with one alpage already active for a week in Valais plus three teams in place in the Jura Vaudois, the season is officially underway! 🥳

📸 @valemeiz

#volunteer #volunteering #loup #wolf #agriculture #mouton #vache #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #family #aventure

Last Saturday, we ran a German-language training course in Visp in collaboration with the Valais canton agriculture department. 📚🇨🇭

Horacio Beltran, herd protection advisor for the Upper Valais, and Nicolas Antille, mountain leader, were on hand to run various modules. Philipp Millius, from the Baltschieder breeders' association, and Oliver Gottsponer, from the Visperterminen breeders' association, also presented their work on alpine pastures. 👨‍🌾🐑

Many thanks to these people and to the ever-increasing number of volunteers willing to get actively involved with us! 🙏

Tonight, the first team starts the monitoring season on the Planajeur pasture in the Lower Valais. The following teams will start next week. 🔦🐺

The month of May is intense but so motivating! Our team draws its motivation from the energy transmitted by all those people who are committed to working together! Thank you all, and have a great start to summer 2024! 💚

📸 @loic_bohler

#volunteer #volunteering #loup #wolf #agriculture #mouton #vache #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation #association #family #aventure

At the beginning of the month, we welcomed our first trainee of the year, @loic_bohler. He got straight into the swing of things, as his first days of training took place at the start of the season. 🤯

We're all delighted to have Loïc on our team! We'll leave it to him to introduce himself in the text that follows. 🌱

"Having always been passionate about the wild world, I draw inspiration from the natural world around us to pursue my desire to devote my life to studying and protecting it. Having just completed a Bachelor's degree in "Life Sciences", during which I acquired both theoretical and practical knowledge via external naturalist training courses, I wish to continue along this path and will be starting a Master's degree in "Operational Ecology" at the end of the summer.

So I spend my free time in nature to marvel at this wild world that is so fragile and to develop further ecological knowledge. I also enjoy taking wildlife photographs to immortalize the moments that nature has to offer, and to share the beauty that surrounds us.

As I have a particular attraction for large predators, and am particularly affected by the conflicts between them and breeders, I focused my internship research on this subject. Having discovered OPPAL's Instagram account through my interests, I immediately became attached to the values and work of this association.

It was therefore an obvious choice for me to apply for the internship position, in order to understand this theme and discover the existing solutions for resolving these conflicts, all the while helping out. Today, I couldn't be happier to have joined and learned from them! "

#volunteer #volunteering #wolf #wolf #agriculture #sheep #cow #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan #ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision #faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia #strongertogether #cohabitation #awareness #association #family #adventure

What an incredible weekend! 🤩

Our early-season training session was, as usual, rich in emotion and beautiful encounters. We were lucky enough to welcome a total of 129 volunteers and 15 civilians. The team is extremely touched by your ever-growing motivation. Your dedication and solidarity are the driving force behind OPPAL`s monitoring program. 💪🏼

The 7 modules were led with passion by speakers specialized in their field. Sharing their knowledge enabled new volunteers to appreciate the challenges of field work and the complexities of cohabiting with large carnivores. They also learned that teamwork is key. Together, we can find solutions and support those in need. 🐺🐑🌱

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of this weekend: speakers, companions, trainees, cooks, photographers, helpers with service, selling goodies and tidying up. Your mobilization made this training course a great success once again! 🙏

📸 @loic_bohler

@korafoundation
@agridea
@patagoniaeurope
@decathlon_ch
@optilink

#volunteer #volunteering #loup #wolf #agriculture#mouton #vache #wwf_suisse #wwf_ch #tragopan#ecology #environment #benevolat #traditional#schwarznasenschaf #switzerland #swissalps #nightvision#faunesauvage #swissmountains #hardwork #patagonia#strongertogether #cohabitation #sensibilisation#formation #training #association