Programmatic conference
The programmatic conference promoted by the Order of Veterinary Doctors of the Province of Matera is scheduled for Thursday 9 and Friday 10 November 2023 from 8,30 am in the conference room of Alvino 1884 in Matera, with the final objective of drawing up a pilot containment project , control and conservation of wild boars in Matera Murgia Park. The initiative had the support of the Municipal Administration and the Basilicata Region, in the Departments of the Environment and Agriculture, with the patronage of the Ministry of Health, Department of Animal Health, of the FNOVI (National Federation of Italian Veterinary Doctors), ANMVI ( National Association of Italian Veterinary Doctors), ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research), OMSA (World Organization for Animal Health), the Zooprophylactic Institutes of Marche/Umbria, Tuscany/Lazio and Portici, as well as the University of Bari, Department of Veterinary Medicine and UNIBAS.
Many different problems
Over the last few years there has been an increase in the number of wild boars in Basilicata such as to cause a series of problems linked to the damage caused to numerous agricultural productions, in addition to the multiple dangers for vehicles traveling on the numerous roads existing there. The solution often adopted by Public Administrations, when a cohabitation problem occurs in which wild boars are involved, both in the case of road accidents and in the case of invasions of agricultural areas, is culling. The data shows how hunting represents a short-term solution, bringing no benefits except immediately. An interesting solution instead concerns the control of wildlife fertility. We are generally used to thinking of sterilization - which involves capturing the animal, a surgical operation, with a period of convalescence and reintroduction into nature - with a high cost, which we are unlikely to want to face. More recent studies in the sector have recognized the effectiveness of immuno-contraceptive vaccines, currently in the experimental phase, which can interfere with the fertility of animals. Effective treatment on the species subject to the intervention, free of unwanted side effects, which can be administered at any time of the reproductive cycle and which, according to the studies of Dr Giovanna Massei, of the University of York (United Kingdom), host of the two-day Matera event, has an effect of blocking the reproductive cycle from 4 to 6 years.
A unique one of its kind
“Starting from this analysis – states Filomena Montemurro, President of the Order of Veterinary Doctors of the Province of Matera -, this programmatic conference was organized in order to involve all the parties involved with the ultimate objective of drawing up a pilot project that can be adopted in the Murgia Park of Matera, and subsequently, after an assessment in the field, be applied to other areas of the Region and the Peninsula". “In summary – he continues -, in these two days there will be representatives of the institutions, researchers from ISPRA, university professors from UNIBAS and the University of Bari, zooprophylactic institutes from different regions, local health authorities, representatives of the various farmers' trade union organizations and farmers, environmentalist associations, we will try to collect the various requests to try to write down a procedure, a handbook that can be adopted and financed by the Regional Government Bodies". “This Conference, in our opinion, represents a unique one of its kind as it has the merit of comparing the three sectors of Environment, Health and Agriculture on the topic, underlining even more the professional figure of the Veterinary Doctor in that perspective that has always been pursued in relationship between Man, environment, animal, or the One Health policy”. Control of the wild boar population: possible strategies compared and proposal for a pilot project for the Murgia Materana Park.