A serious problem
How does the crocodile do it? So sang the Piccolo Coro dell'Antoniano back in 1993, a song that has remained famous even afterward. But this question can't be answered when referring to Sakura Lake in Montesilvano, in the province of Pescara. This haven for fishing enthusiasts and others has a serious problem with cormorants, which continue to decimate the population in these waters. Consequently, the decision was made to rely on fake crocodiles.
Removal and not demolition
It's a deterrent system yet to be tested, an initiative conceived by the "Nuovo Saline" association, which has presented the first European project of its kind. "Cormoshield," as the project is called, aims to drive away cormorants after finding, according to its creators, that culling the birds has failed to yield tangible results. But how exactly does this system work?
The intelligence of cormorants
The crocodiles have been reproduced fairly faithfully, made of fiberglass to be precise, with a motor that allows for remote-controlled movement, much like toy boats. In reality, the association is aware that cormorants are intelligent and, after realizing the fake animal is harmless, might not be bothered by its presence. The idea, therefore, is to constantly alternate the systems, with other animals or objects capable of frightening the birds.
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