Rove Goat Herds Aid Biodiversity in Châteauponsac While 'Anima' Show Celebrates Pastoral Art in Gentioux-Pigerolles

On 29 May 2026 a herd of Rove goats returned to the heathlands of the Gartempe valley near Châteauponsac, replacing a previous sheep flock. Their grazing helps maintain the heather‑dominated Natura 2000 sites, promoting plant diversity by feeding on young woody shoots and trampling to keep the land open. The herd, managed by a local farmer with three herding dogs and two protection dogs, moves across about 20 ha of land, with a transhumance on 8 July 2026 linking two sites over a 5 km route, supported by the municipality, gendarmerie and volunteers.

On 17 September 2026 the outdoor performance “Anima – chorégraphies pastorales” was staged in the hamlet of Les Salles, Gentioux‑Pigerolles, as part of the International Year of Pastoral Routes. The show blends the movement of livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, horses) with mythic centaurs, creating temporary choreographies that highlight the human‑animal‑nature relationship and promote biodiversity awareness. The free event, organized by Parc et Prairies nomades and local cultural partners, invited the public to experience the landscape as a living stage.