The Camargue, a region in southern France known and loved for its wide open spaces and its wild nature, which extends over an immense area.
Sandwiched between the two branches of the Rhône River and the Mediterranean Sea, this land is home to exceptional yet fragile flora and fauna, a shared space where humans, horses, bulls, and birds live in harmony.
France. Camargue. Aigues Mortes. Salt pans. Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Flamingos (phoenicopterus Roseus). Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Mallard (anas Platyrhynchos). Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Camargue Horses. Image: Kike Calvo/Universal Images Group 
Little Egrets (egretta Garzetta). Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Camargue Horses. Herd Galloping through swamp, Saintes Marie de la Mer in the South of France. Image: Gerard Lacz/VW Pics /Universal Images Group 
Salin De Giraud. Camargue. Provence. France. Image: Giulio Andreini/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Camargue Horse, Stallions Fighting, Saintes Marie de la Mer in Camargue, in the South of France. Image: Gerard Lacz/VW Pics/Universal Images Group 
A flock of greater flamingos, Phoenicopterus roseus, walking in a lagoon. Saintes Maries de la Mer, Carmague, France. Image: Sergio Pitamitz/VW Pics/Universal Images Group 
France. Camargue. Aigues Mortes. Salts pans. Image: Giovanni Mereghetti/UCG/Universal Images Group 
A flock of greater flamingos, Phoenicopterus roseus, feeding in a lagoon. Saintes Maries de la Mer, Carmague, France. Image: Sergio Pitamitz/VW Pics/Universal Images Group 
Camargue wild horses, Equus ferus caballus, in a lagoon. Image: Sergio Pitamitz/VW Pics/Universal Images Group 
Salin De Giraud. Camargue, Provence, France. Image: Giulio Andreini/UCG/Universal Images Group 
Birdlife information. Petit. Camargue. France. Image: Marco Simonini/REDA/Universal Images Group
The Camargue is an important stopover for migratory birds. Approximately 1 million pass through the delta each year. It is also a refuge for 150,000 birds year-round, including the iconic flamingos. Here, they feed on the tiny crustaceans that give their plumage its colorful hues. 398 bird species have been recorded in the Camargue, representing more than half of the known species in France. 132 of these species nest in the area. The Camargue is the most important national area for birdlife. This small strip of land bordering the sea seems like a universe parallel to classical Provence, yet infinitely complementary. It encompasses 75,000 hectares of sand, marshes, ponds, and rice paddies, a vast park of pristine nature, a riot of colors and panoramas. This wild area is swept by a fierce wind and scorched by a fiery sun, which splits the land and ignites its colors: here, pink flamingos walk gracefully through the water at a fiery red sunset, wild bulls graze on the moors, and white horses roam free.
Flamingos (phoenicopterus Roseus). Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
The Black-winged Stilt (himantopus Himantopus). Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
The Salt Pans In Salin-de-giraud on the Rhone Estuary in the Camargue. Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Camarguais or Cheval De Camargue. Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Grey Herons (ardea Cinerea) Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Flamingos (phoenicopterus Roseus) Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
The Camargue Bull. Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Grey Herons (ardea Cinerea) in the Nest. Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Grey Herons (ardea Cinerea). Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Eurasian Teal (anas Crecca) Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Flamingos (phoenicopterus Roseus). Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
A Grey Heron (ardea Cinerea) Catches and Swallows a Catfish. Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Nutria or Coypu (myocastor Coypus). Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Flamingos (phoenicopterus Roseus). Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group 
Storks May Be Spotted While Hiking in the Camargue Marshes. Image: Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Universal Images Group
44 mammal species (109 recorded in France), 10 amphibian species, and 15 reptile species, including beavers, otters, turtles, and more, further demonstrate the richness of the fauna. Many of these are classified as protected species in Europe. It’s interesting to note how the Eurasian beaver, which had disappeared from the Rhone Delta for several decades before reappearing about 10 years ago, has returned here. A true ambassador of biodiversity, the beaver is an engineer, the only mammal other than humans to tirelessly develop and reshape the landscape: felling trees, building dams, and digging.
All images featured in this post and on Kaleidoscope are available for licensing. Please contact us at info@universalimagesgroup.com