ZIGZAGING SHEEP

Every autumn sheep are seen navigating a narrow mountain path as part of an unusual tourist attraction in the Swiss Alps. The animals and their sheepherder have to traverse the perilous path as they are moved from their remote summer grazing high above the Aletsch glacier in Switzerland.

700 animals have been enjoying the lush grazing at an altitude of 1800 meters for the past three months. It’s a harsh landscape up there and no trees grow on this altitude. Only rocks protect the sheep from rain, sun and thunderstorm. Luckily no wolfs live up there but eagles are natural enemies of helpless lambs. If an animal is lost from their herd it will barely been found in this giant area. Herdsmen collect the flock every year during the last weekend in August and drive the animals over the mountain and down into the village of Belalp as part of an eight-hour trek, including a violent stream with an improvisational bridge.

When they finally arrive on the alp Belalp, the sheep are herded into a large dry stone wall corral that is surrounded by many smaller pens into which the animals are then separated by their owners. As part of this Shepherd's Weekend festival or Schäferwochenende the four most beautiful sheep are presented with a crown of flowers.

Publication: The Telegraph