Basque Country: Kriaxera duck rescue operation awarded national prize

The Kriaxera duck narrowly escaped disaster. This historic local species of the Basque Country could have disappeared after the culls in an attempt to limit the spread of avian flu. But breeders managed to save some eggs, and with them an entire industry. Their efforts have now been rewarded.

After nearly extinction, Kriaxera-Cridassere ducks are once again grazing in the Basque Country. This ancient local breed, resistant to avian flu, was not spared the preventive culling of 1,600 animals found to be healthy carriers of the virus in 2021. An episode that almost wiped the species off the map if farmers hadn't mobilized to save eggs.

"Without these eggs, it would have been the end of the breed," summarizes Julen Perez, a breeder in Lohitzun - Oyhercq. Along with six other stakeholders in the industry, they created the Kriaxera-Cridassere Purebred Duck Conservation and Development Association in 2022 to save the species and "prepare for the future."

Their efforts were rewarded with the 2025 National Animal Agrobiodiversity Award, created by Ceva Santé Animale, a Libourne-based company that annually recognizes initiatives for the preservation and promotion of endangered French agricultural breeds. This is a first for a poultry breed from the Southwest.

"Today, 168 local livestock breeds are threatened in France, due to the standardization of production or because of diseases. If we lose these breeds, the entire biodiversity is impoverished."

"This is remarkable work. Today, 168 local livestock breeds are threatened in France, due to the standardization of production [some breeds are favored for their competitiveness to the detriment of others], or because of disease. If we lose these breeds, all biodiversity is impoverished," emphasizes Oleksiy Nagornyy, CEO of Ceva.

Today, just under 1,300 animals represent the future of this local species with its rare genetic heritage. "It's still fragile," says Benoît Jean, the association's coordinator. He adds that even if the breed is saved, the losses have consequences for the genetic heritage of the remaining animals: "If we only keep 5% of these ducks, we lose 50% of the genetic diversity," he explains. "That's lost forever."

We have in our hands a breed with a rare genetic heritage, which is still in its cradle of race. We are proud to have saved it.

To prevent a new cull from threatening the species, the ducks are being split between two different sites. A few animals are being placed with willing individuals as a last resort. "Nothing is certain. It requires maintenance, capital," notes Julen Perez.

This €15,000 prize, in addition to recognizing the association's efforts, should help relieve the burden on breeders who, until now, have been dipping into their reserves, between €40,000 and €50,000 per year, to maintain the machine launched with the help of the Conservatoire des races d'Aquitaine. "We have in our hands a breed with a rare genetic heritage, which is still in its cradle of breed," emphasizes Julen Perez. "We are proud to have saved it."