In May, the National Museum of Natural History commissioned an exciting study on the effects of global warming on waterfowl populations in the Camargue. At the same time, geographer Sylvie Brunel…
In May, the National Museum of Natural History commissioned an exciting study on the effects of global warming on waterfowl populations in the Camargue. At the same time, geographer Sylvie Brunel published an environmental novel, The Alligator’s Smile, whose central theme is the evolution of ecosystems as a result of the vagaries of climate. There we meet the mythical figures of the crocodile farm owner Samuel Martin and the writer Denis Colomb de Downant, the screenwriter of “Crine Blanc” and Frédéric Mistral.
Of course, we can read this very beautiful story as a Camargue story with its horses, bulls, shepherds, a visit to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, pink flamingos… But behind the intrigue – a crocodile escaped. “Traffic continues in the marshes of Vaccarés – the essayist gives the keys to a thought that a very intelligent person can answer. He paints a magical picture of this area, one of the largest wetlands in Europe, both natural and anthropogenic. Its luxurious scenery also owes its harmony to the sharp management of the aquatic environment. the land of water.
Differences
Silent, often muddy in its burrow, the crocodile only scares dogs and horses for a long time. As soon as its existence is established, desires increase, tourists flock, and innkeepers rub their hands. Although the beauty of the jusie carpets, which suffocate aquatic life, may inspire naive sympathy for the flight of the ibis, an invasive species, rice farmers and herders believe that the crocodile is not a solution to the regulation of other invaders, such as coypu. .
What will happen to this giant river delta at sea level if salt water eats up fresh water, upsetting the delicate balance of the biotope? Confront, resign, adapt… The complexity of the equation invites, above all, the humility of men, decision-makers, as well as scientists, and a more holistic understanding of life.