Cultural sheep grazing in high mountains in Poland

Jozef, a Juhas (a traditional Polish Carpathian mountains shepherd), is walking with a flock of sheep on Polana Rusinowa (about 1200m above sea level) in the high Tatra mountains, Tatra National Park in Poland on May 21, 2024. Sheep grazing is a centuries-long tradition in the whole Carpathian mountains (Tatra is the highest range of the Carpathian). Baca, the traditional shepherd, is gathering sheep from local owners and leading flocks up the mountains to Bacowka to graze during the season, usually from April till late September. Baca and his helpers (Juhas) are milking sheep and producing traditional local cheese. This tradition, run under strict regulations in Tatra National Park, is listed on the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage and is one of many worldwide examples of encouraging indigenous people to care for their landscapes and local biodiversity.