Agriculture · Environment & Transitions · Unusual · Portrait

Island shepherd

20 December 2022Photos and text: Oscar Chuberre25 images

Berger des îles

01 / 25 · 20 December 2022Oscar Chuberre / Collectif DR

Nicolas Poupinel is an unusual shepherd. Indeed, he does not take his animals to graze in mountain pastures, but on the islands of the Morbihan. Several island landowners, as well as the Conservatoire du littoral, the department and certain protected natural areas call on his “natural lawnmowers”

In addition to herding his flock of 100 to 150 head, he also shears a thousand sheep a year and turns the wool into high-end felt. He also helps safeguard endangered Breton sheep breeds. Far from wolf attacks, Nicolas has chosen to work without dogs and often has to run after his animals to round them up. The boat trips from island to island are also quite epic, especially when the sheep take it into their heads to jump overboard… which fortunately is quite rare!

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