The line continues higher to the small village of Caux passing through Alpine meadows which, in the Springtime, are full of wild growing narcissus, forget-me-nots and others, before reaching its upper terminus at Rochers-de-Naye, the home of the Marmot Paradise, a centre where seven varieties of these small mammals can be seen in a natural environment.
Michael Marmot | Himalayan marmot | Marmot | Tarbagan marmot | Menzbier's Marmot | Long-tailed marmot |
The Rettenstein lies in the Spertental-Rettenstein protected landscape and so Pine, Spruce, Gentian, Willow Gentian, Platenigl, Edelweiss, Monkshood, Rock Ptarmigan, Black Grouse and Capercaillie, Red Deer, Chamois, Ibex and Marmot all occur here.
Research by the French ethnologist Michel Peissel makes a claim that the story of 'gold-digging ants' reported by the Greek historian Herodotus, who lived in the 5th century BC, was founded on the golden Himalayan marmot of the Deosai plateau and the habit of local tribes such as the Minaro to collect the gold dust excavated from their burrows.
On 7 October, Le Marmot started the 7.25/1 third favourite for the 58th running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe over 2400 m at Longchamp.
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On 5 October, Le Marmot started 2/1 favourite for the 57th running of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe: he was coupled in the betting with Ela-Mana-Mou, as the Irish breeder Tim Rogers owned a share in both horses.
The name Tarbagatay derives from Mongolian (Tarbagan marmot) as marmot mountains.