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