Nature Published on 30/03/2021
An enchanting setting…
Having recently arrived in the region, I decided, on this beautiful sunny day in June, to go for a walk in the Turet, of which I had heard a lot. The view on the way up to the Faucille pass already takes my breath away… I can’t wait to discover what’s next!
I take the trail, which keeps all its promises by offering me many plants to smell, colorful flowers to observe. And I even see animal tracks. The guards of the National Nature Reserve of the Haute Chaîne du Jura informed me! By paying attention to what surrounds me, I can observe an amazing flora and fauna…
I continue my way, between forest and clearings, in the middle of a thousand and one scents. I imagine the tree lovers delighted in the middle of all these species. It is still early, and the hikers are rare. So, I take the opportunity to take my time, to listen to the silence interspersed with birds’ songs… for many, the definition of happiness!
… to be protected!
The path is well marked, impossible to get lost, especially since small signs adorn the trees here and there to remind us of our way. Suddenly, a banner calls out to me: in red on a yellow background, it tells me that I am in a “wildlife tranquility zone”.
The access to different paths, located on both sides of the only authorized trail, is therefore closed from December 15 to June 30 in this sector. But what else? Imagine yourself in the middle of winter, you are cold, you feel weak, and maybe you are coming down with a cold. Noise, even if it’s muffled, is unbearable, you don’t feel able to take two steps, and taking care of your children seems inconceivable.
At times like these, the slightest effort seems insurmountable, the smallest obstacle an insurmountable mountain. Are you there? Now you are in the same situation as the wild fauna that inhabit our beautiful mountains and that, from late autumn to early summer, must juggle between the harsh climatic conditions, the reproduction period and the education of newborns.
As you can see, these “wildlife quiet zones” represent their little paradise, their private sanctuary, and above all, their only chance of survival with us. Because beware, quietness means quietness in the broadest sense, and not only silence.
In these areas, any disturbance, any incursion into the forbidden zone, can cause the wildlife to flee, and thus exhaust it, prevent it from feeding, or make it vulnerable to other factors (disease, predators, parasites, …) and thus lead to its death in winter, or to the abandonment of its eggs or young in spring. Think about it when you see these banners!
Unexpected face-to-face
If my thoughts wander, my feet continue their way, and I soon cross the road of an old goya – or gouille -, hosting in its turbid waters tadpoles. What a pretty sight to see them waving and playing (unless it’s my imagination playing tricks on me!).
But the tadpoles are not going to take long to be stolen by a 4-legged fellow… indeed, as I approach the end of the path, a noise on the left attracts my attention. I don’t dare to believe it, and yet a young chamois is standing there, in front of me! We look at each other for a few seconds, curious, without fear, before his instinct pushes him to run down the slope at full speed to get away from this strange biped. I understand better why dogs are forbidden here!
I already crossed chamois several times before, but each time this spectacle is for me an indescribable emotion, mixture of fascination, serenity and recognition.
After a few minutes to savor this precious moment, I go back to the famous bench of the Turet, thanks to which I can enjoy the ultimate panorama which also leaves me speechless.
Words are superfluous here, I will let you discover this wonderful view on your own!
