Liguria region e Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Piedmont, Liguria and Val d'Aosta (IZS PLV) have renewed the health monitoring program on wildlife for the years 2021 and 2022 with the simultaneous commitment of 45 thousand euros deriving from the proceeds of regional hunting taxes. The activities are jointly proposed by the IZS PLV between Health Protection Sector in living and working environments, Wildlife sector and hunting surveillance, Alisa and the Veterinary Services of the Ligurian Asl.
“The control program - says the vice president and councilor for agriculture Alexander Piana - has been active since 2013 and has allowed to verify the health status of wild ungulates subject to hunting activities, through the active surveillance of the most significant pathologies from the dual profile of the conservation of the species and public health.
For example, it is possible to evaluate the pollution of the different habitats searching for heavy metals on collected samples thus using wildlife as a biomonitor of the state of health of the environment. They are also performed statistically significant samples from birds (corvids) and carnivores found dead as well as on the avifauna object of hunting or authorized containment plans ".