Livestock farmers came from the surrounding Pyrenees region and Catalonia and Broto in Spain to take part in the peaceful protest, which was followed by flocks of sheep and tractors amid the sound of bells and firecrackers.

The protest came days after France's top administrative court ruled that the releases could go ahead, despite opponents' claims that they would disrupt the economic balance of the area in contravention of EU directives.

Opponents of the bears say they will also pose a serious threat to hikers, shepherds and livestock. Releases were suspended pending the court ruling after regional farmers' unions attempted to block them.

Protestors passed through the streets with cows and donkeys at the head of the procession before gathering outside the town hall where farmers' spokesmen made speeches denouncing the government for the bear releases.

"Apart from the question of reintroducing a predatory animal, be it a bear, lynx or wolf, what is shocking is that they wanted to take away the mountain people's right to decide for themselves," said Jean-Louis Cazaubon, president of the chamber of agriculture for the Midi-Pyrenees region.

Two female brown bears from Slovenia, named Franska and Palouma, have been released in recent weeks, and a further three -- two females and a male -- are to follow, joining a total of 18 bears already roving the region.

The cows and donkeys at Saturday's march bore the inscriptions "Nelly" and "Rolland", referring to Ecology Minister Nelly Olin and local mayor Rolland Castells, two decision-makers involved in the bear releases.

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