The mountains only cover 25% of the Earth’s surface, but they are a real refuge for biodiversity. The Alps are home to a wide range of wild animal species that are able to adapt to the rugged terrain and extreme altitudes.
We have compiled a list of activities that we hope will make you want to find out more about the animals that live in our mountains.
- An educational trail for children
Either on foot or with showshoes, families will enjoy the new trail that departs directly from the top of Nyon cable car. Adventurers will get a chance to find out more about the animals that live in the mountains thanks to the educational signs dotted along the trail. At the beginning of the trail, you are advised to download the ‘Locafaune’ application and with this, children can make a note of the animals they are lucky enough to see! A great way to play a part in protecting these species.
- The Alpine ibex is an iconic animal of the Alps that can be observed with binoculars
The Alpine ibex is usually seen scaling the ridges and this is where they roam from one mountain to the next. They are rarely seen in the ski areas as they prefer rocky terrain. High-mountain guide Hervé Le Sobre takes visitors to meet these majestic animals on his ‘Chamois & Mouflons’ outing. In the depths of Boutigny valley, on the south-facing (sunny) mountainside, Alpine ibex come to feed on young plants. Equipped with binoculars, a group of hikers can observe them from a distance and learn more about how they live, about their footprints, etc. A calming experience in the midst of the mountains.
- Falconer for a day
Throughout the winter, people of all ages can come and experience something truly unique: an encounter with exceptional birds of prey. Barn owl, Eurasian eagle owl, eagles, buzzards, vultures, etc. Throughout this workshop, the falconer will reveal their secrets and share their extensive knowledge of birds of prey, in the form of games. At the end of the workshop, the birds will fly up above participants’ heads, for a magical experience.
- A different skiing experience… alongside eagles!
This concept, the only one of its kind in the world, is brought to you by ‘Aigles du Léman’. Holidaymakers and locals will be lucky enough to ski alongside a gyrfalcon. The goal is to race this bird of prey to be in with a chance of winning your place on a falconry workshop (worth €75) but if the bird is faster, participants still win a meal for 2 at the Aigles du Léman restaurant. Who will be the quickest off the mark?
Recently, a project to reintroduce white-tailed eagles into the wild was rolled out. This is the biggest eagle in Europe and thanks to this project, it was returned to the shores of Lake Geneva, after 130 years of absence. The white-tailed eagle, sometimes called a sea eagle, lives on the shores of lakes. At the Aigles du Léman animal park on the other side of the border in France, several eaglets were born and then reintroduced into the wild in summer 2022. These young white-tailed eagles were released into the wild at the end of June. Over the coming years, only a few birds will be reintroduced into the wild every summer. By the end of this initiative, more than 80 birds of prey will have been reintroduced. As an added bonus, you can visit the Aigles du Léman winter park at the Pointe de Nyon in Morzine ski area.
Have you heard of black grouse? A small sedentary species found in the Alps and other mountainous areas.
In France, black grouse can be found across the majority of the Alpine terrain (from Chablais to the Var), as well as in many other places. For the winter, they build a sort of igloo in the snow where they can keep a constant temperature of around 4°C. A list of designated areas for reproduction and overwintering is drawn up each year, in an effort to raise awareness of and protect this endangered species. That is how Morzine ski area came to identify 2 protected zones: the Lac de Joux Plane lake and the Col de Joux Plane.
Thematics
