Animal rights activists in France are organizing protests and petitions to urge the government to prohibit the hunting of Alpine marmots. Although not classified as endangered, concerns are rising over their declining populations due to climate change impacts on their habitat and social structures.
The hunting season for marmots begins in September, with approximately 1,000 of these rodents hunted annually in France. While farmers argue they cause damage, campaigners highlight the need for a national ban, citing the animals' cultural significance and the growing threats they face from environmental changes.