The Great Hamster Of Alsace

[Scunnered]

You learn something every day. From the Independent:

France faces huge fine for failing to save great hamster of Alsace

France has been threatened by the European Commission with a fine of €17m for failing to protect the only colony of wild hamsters (hamsters sauvages) in western Europe.

Apparently there's a colony of 600 of these beasts in Eastern France but they're now facing extinction.

The hamster, with its white paws, black stomach and reddish-brown back, was not called the "great hamster of Alsace" out of affection. Measuring 20cm in length, it is more similar to a guinea-pig than a domestic hamster.

...

The problem facing the hamsters is that once-plentiful cabbages, which were their favourite diet, have now been abandoned by farmers for more lucrative maize. So when the hamster awakes from its hibernation in March there is nothing to eat. It is forced to traverse long distances to find not only food but also a mate. A journey often littered with roads and housing developments.

Just goes to show how much damage these rapacious house-builders can do.

For the Francophones amongst you, there's more information at http://www.hamster-alsace.fr/ and http://mapage.noos.fr/baumgart/ (LE GRAND HAMSTER: UN MAMMIFERE SAUVAGE SPECIFIQUE A L'ALSACE !!)