Click image to zoom

Sympathizers Of 'Squirrels' Against The A69 Highway Gather

A 'squirrel' is speaking in front of supporters near a wall that has been painted with the message 'A69 won't pass' in Toulouse, France, on January 17, 2024. As the construction of the controversial A69 highway between Toulouse and Castres continues, four arborist-climbers, nicknamed 'squirrels,' are currently on trial at the courthouse in Toulouse for obstructing the felling of trees near Verfeuil by occupying them. Supporters have gathered to back the 'squirrels.' They have constructed a mock concrete wall where they have painted 'A69 won't be built' and have burned a fake Earth. The 'squirrels' are aiming to protect the remaining trees that the public works group NGE/Atosca has not yet destroyed. Trees are being cut down by NGE/ATOSCA even though not all legal procedures have been completed. 'La Voie est Libre' (meaning 'The Way is Free'), opponents, and Thomas Brail are calling for the construction of the highway to be halted until all judicial decisions have been made. Not all expropriations for farmers have been resolved. Critics of the project argue that reprofiling the N126 would be sufficient for the anticipated 6,000 vehicles per day and would cost significantly less. The A69 highway is projected to cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros, excluding inflation) for 54 kilometers, and its construction will result in the destruction of over 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural land. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#10920760
Date Taken	17 January 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Social Issue
Copyright	© 2026 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

ecology highway protest la voie est libre lvel environment nature law btp collective national road n126 A69 public works politics opposition opponent objector protester climate nge climate change global warming 6th extinction castres concrete toulouse france bats nature birds destruction concreting atosca activist arborist climber trees Saint-Germain-des-Pres public money waste farmer farming food smda occitanie public interest trial justice ecureuils squirrels tgi wall concrete wall

License This Photo

Digital Basic Editorial use on digital platforms only (websites, social media). Single use, up to 1 million monthly UVs. Worldwide distribution. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€35.00

Editorial Print & Digital For editorial use in print and digital publications such as newspapers, magazines, and textbooks. Single use, up to 10,000 copies or 1 million UVs. Worldwide distribution. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€99.00

Broadcast (TV & Digital) For editorial use in TV production or streaming platforms. Single use, all media rights excluding theatrical, with worldwide distribution in perpetuity. NO COMMERCIAL OR PROMOTIONAL USE

€399.00

Total Price

€35.00

Secure checkout

Need a custom license?

Contact Sales