Paris: More than 200 sheep have died after they hurtled over the edge of a cliff in the Pyrenees mountains while being chased by a bear, reigniting a debate about the predator's reintroduction to France.

The bears were reintroduced to the mountain range on the French-Spanish border 20 years ago after disappearing in the early 90s.

A French shepherd. Local authorities sent experts to examine the scene during the week and they concluded that the sheep had been running away from a bear. Credit:File

The sheep belonged to a farmer in the Couflens area on the French side of the border, but their bodies were found last Sunday at the foot of a cliff just over the border in Spain.

The rest of the large flock were missing after dispersing over the mountains while fleeing an attack.