More than 60 sheep were killed by wolves in the alpine region of Vercors, according to reports from a shepherd and a local elected official. The attack took place during the night of August 30 to 31 in the highlands of the commune of Bouvante in the Drôme department. At the time, a flock of 580 sheep was grazing in the area. When the shepherd, Sébastien Robert, arrived the next morning, he found 64 animals dead and approximately 20 missing. He shared this information with the radio station Ici and the newspaper Dauphiné Libéré. The mayor of Oriol-en-Royans, Jean-Jacques Dallon, described the attack as "a figure previously unseen for an outdoor attack," highlighting its severity and unusual nature. According to the French Office for Biodiversity (OFB), the attack might have been carried out by male wolves teaching their young to hunt, which could explain the extreme lethality of the incident. The mayor noted that the sheep were not eaten, suggesting the wolves may have been practicing their hunting skills rather than scavenging. Following the attack, Jean-Jacques Dallon met with the shepherd, along with other local officials and a representative from the young farmers' association. During the meeting, Dallon emphasized that the wolf population in France has grown significantly over the past decade, increasing from fewer than 10 departments to more than 60. He noted that while the culling of wolves is legally allowed in certain circumstances, it is prohibited in natural environments unless it is necessary to protect livestock. A specific procedure exists for "sampling shots," which allows for the controlled killing of wolves under strict regulations. This procedure is not tied to an ongoing attack on livestock, and there is a limit on how many wolves can be killed, based on an estimated population of just over 1,000 individuals. The discussion highlights the complex balance between protecting livestock and managing the growing wolf population in the region.