Testimonials
They have participated in or benefited from OPPAL's programs
Oggier family
We only made contact with OPPAL in the spring. Despite the extremely short notice, OPPAL was able to find enough volunteers for the season.
The intervention took place autonomously and did not disturb us at all. On the contrary, the work of the night watchmen was a great relief for the shepherdess and the shepherds. This action has calmed down the tense situation concerning the presence of the wolf. Indeed, almost every night, volunteers were watching over our animals. Messages about the presence of the wolf were coming regularly. However, thanks to the fences protecting the herds and the presence of the volunteers, the wolf was intimidated. Fortunately, no attacks were recorded.
We would like to thank all the volunteers and organizers of OPPAL once again! We have met some nice people and hope to see them again.
We are already looking forward to next summer with the support of OPPAL!
Martial
Following this wolf attack on July 25, I could no longer reasonably guard the sheep day and night.
Fatigue, accidents, lack of enthusiasm at work; the solution of getting help was adopted. Also, I warmly thank the staff and volunteers of OPPAL, organization for the protection of the mountain pastures. Night guards to protect the herd and save my nights sleep, this is so precious.
Thanks to them!
Betty
When I heard that volunteers were going to come and do tours during the night, I laughed a little bit. And then I realized that I was totally wrong.
People came, some of them stayed overnight in the rain, I could see them putting on their raincoats and doing their rounds. And my animals were super quiet, that's really important, important for us.
Suzanne & Eric
In 2020, there was a wolf attack on the Barberine mountain pasture, which is just above the Planajeur pasture where I graze in the summer with our sheep herd.
In 2021, I saw that an association was created with volunteers to watch the herd at night: OPPAL. I contacted Jeremie and that's when our collaboration started, in July 2021 with great people either on the side of the volunteers or on the side of the organizers. We were lucky enough to be able to benefit from it in 2022 and we are looking forward to collaborating again in 2023.
There is more and more pressure from the wolf. The volunteers are very motivated and we take this opportunity to thank them and the whole team.
Fabienne
Seeking to understand the complexity of the problem (wolves/cattle in summer pastures) and not to judge it from my couch, I was looking for an opportunity to be on the ground. OPPAL offered me this chance.
Their surveillance equipment allowed me, not only to react if a wolf came too close to the livestock, but also to observe the nocturnal behaviors of a whole biodiversity (foxes, badgers, deer, wild boars, wild cats...). Magical.
The sharing with the volunteers under the rain or under the stars, the exchanges with the shepherds on the pasture or by the fire, the benevolence of the association, are unique and very enriching moments.
It was a wonderful experience. I already signed up for next year. A big thank you to all.
Martin
Interested in the problem of cohabitation between pastoralists and large predators in our territories, OPPAL is exactly the kind of experience I was looking for.
This allowed me to understand the reality of the field and the numerous difficulties encountered by the breeders and shepherds through very enriching exchanges and moments. In this context, I really enjoyed making myself useful, and this with other volunteers, by trying to facilitate this sometimes fragile coexistence between the wild and the rural world.
Kelly
I wanted to take concrete action with farmers to facilitate cohabitation with wolves, and OPPAL allowed me to do so.
Watching in the most complete night and total silence, between quietude and inner excitement, this experience will remain engraved in me for a long time!
Great meetings, days spent napping, talking and chopping wood... I'm looking forward to doing it again!
Daniel
OPPAL is the kind of pragmatic, responsible and supportive ecological initiative I was looking for.
To discover the difficult work of the shepherds, to understand the difficulties of the breeders, to share with other volunteers sometimes difficult moments, to confront our points of view, to usefully spend time, is an even more enriching experience that I had imagined and that I am delighted to live again.