Click image to zoom

7th Day At The 'Verger' ZAD Against The Planned A69 Highway

Atosca buries the 'Verger' house under soil as bats look from the roof. For the 5th day, Gendarmerie and CNAMO try to dislodge 'Ecureuils' (i.e., 'Squirrels') from the trees they occupy at the 'Verger' ZAD (Zone to Defend). The 'Verger' ZAD is situated on the planned and disputed A69 highway project. NGE/Atosca begins the destruction work of the house and the cutting of all the trees. The CNAMO is a specialized unit of Gendarmes to unlock protesters. 'Ecureuils' (i.e., 'squirrels') live in the trees of the 'Verger' ZAD. Gendarmerie breaks a deal between protesters and bats ('chauve-souris' people living on the rooftop of the Verger's house): 4 bags of food and water for 'ecureuils' in exchange for 4 bats who quit the roof with only an ID check. Gendarmerie does not keep its word and brings them to a police station. Gendarmes of the CNAMO catch only one squirrel. Atosca cuts the tree immediately. They try without success to catch the other 'Ecureuils' and mutilate Zineb, an old walnut tree, to catch two 'ecureuils'. The main collective 'La Voie est Libre' (i.e., 'The Way is Free') wants the highway to be stopped until all the justice decisions on the content are given. All expropriations for farmers are not cleared. Opponents of this project say that the reprofiling of the N126 will be sufficient for the 6,000 vehicles planned per day and would cost far less money. The A69 highway will cost EUR512 million (in 2018 euros without inflation) for 53 kilometers. More than 100 protected species and 400 hectares of agricultural fields will be destroyed. Verfeil, France, on September 23, 2024. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Photo Details

Photo ID	#11607298
Date Taken	23 September 2024
Location	N/A
Photographer	Alain Pitton/NurPhoto
Category	Social Issue
Copyright	© 2025 NurPhoto - Alain Pitton/NurPhoto

Related Keywords

ecology highway expulsion zad zadiste zone to defend zone to protect environment nature law btp collective national road n126 A69 public works politics opposition opponent objector climate nge climate change global warming castres concrete toulouse france nature destruction concreting atosca activist arborist climber trees verger le verger public money waste occitanie tarn gendarmerie mobile public interest activistes nature pacifism occupation tree woods oaks oak cutting clear cutting toulouse verfeil autoroute A69 police tree feller logger destruction development protester zadist chauve-souris bats ecureuil squirrel atosca

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