[Regional park of the Haut Jura - Natural reserve of the Haute Chaîne du Jura - Discovering wildlife and flora]
  Discover  a remarkable fauna...

The diversity of habitats such as the windswept alpine meadows of Jura mountain peaks and crests, the lush, green pastures of the Retord plateau, the marsh of Versoix, the complex forest mosaic spread across nearly 1500 m, of elevation … these are some of the numerous habitats which combine to support the diverse and fascinating animal life of the Park. From coypu to lynx, more than 30 species of mammals (not counting the various bats known from the Park) live in this area.
The chamois is typical of high elevation alpine habitats here, while roe-deers and stags prefer the cover of lower elevation forest. From populations of herons in valley bottom wetlands to the almost mythical capercaillie (photo cf on right-hand side) , an on-going census has enumerated more than 110 species of nesting birds. And this is not including the numerous migrants which cross the mountains each spring and fall, particularly in and about the concentration point of Fort l'Ecluse.

A variety of species of amphibians (frogs, toads and salmanders and reptiles (snakes, ) fill out this introduction to the remarkable animal diversity of the area – and that does not include the even greater diversity of insect and invertebrate life here.

Capercaillie,mythical bird of the Haut-Jura

  Did you know ?

After almost a century of absence, the Lynx reappeared in the Haut-Jura in 1974 coming in from Switzerland. If you are lucky enough to see this secretive creature clearly it is quite easy to recognize, appearing as large, exceptionally long-legged cat with pale, mottled fur and distinctive tufts of hair extending from the tips of its ears. A male lynx occupies an immense territory which can be as large as 30,000 ha and which he will share with one or two females. The lynx is a carnivore, feeding on ground birds and small mammals such as rodents, or on occasion, on larger creatures such as injuried or sick roe-deer or chamois. They pose no threat to humans.

Loïc COAT a young filmaker, filmed lynx habits in the Jura over a two year period. This resulted in  the production of a remarkable 1998 video-cassette "Vivre Lynx dans le Jura".

To visit the web site


The lynx reappeared in the Haut-Jura in 1974

  Flora: several hundreds of species including some very rare ones

The flora of pays de Gex is very rich and the natural reserve of Haute Chaîne du Jura supports no fewer than 953 species, including 796 flowering plants. Some of these species are very rare and receive national protection in France . These include the blue thistle or sabot de Venus, a beautiful orchid of open forest habitat in the Haute Chaîne. Orchids are represented by about fifteen species. The usually high diversity of the Haut-Jura reflects the unique combination of its climate, soil conditions and  geographic characteristics. Floristic richness is enhanced by the development of a wide variety of natural habitats, although in alpine pastures, domestic and wild grazing animals can influence the composition of some of the most fragile sites.   

Poppies, cornflowers and daisies
on the Plateau de Retord

  A rich but fragile inheritance...

Hikers must appreciate that the very flowering plant which gives them such unexpected enjoyment when discovered in some special habitat in the Haut-Jura may also be very rare and indeed, in danger of being eliminated by a variety of natural and human causes. Attempts at transplanting such plants, especially with high elevation species, do not help and are virtually doomed to failure, even if the specimens are gathered within a substantial earth ball. Entire populations of rare plants can be (and have been) elminated by only a tiny fraction of visioirs to their rare and delicate habitat making the unwise decision to try to transplant even single plants.

An important principal for all respectful visitors to keep in mind to ensure continued protection and our enduring enjoyment of the remarkable natural diversity of the Haut-Jura: take only photographs, leave only foot-prints !!! 


The Lily Martagon