Hunting calendar, general opening from 1st September “a all sedentary and migratory species, including 'African' dove ". This is the appeal that a group of hunters - representatives of hunting associations and clubs - address directly to the Umbrian president Donatella Tesei. The letter addressed to the governor Tesei (also sent to councilors and various regional councilors) is signed by Mario Bartoccini (wildlife researcher), Danilo Mattioli and Francesco Ravacchioli (Le Torri hunting club), Sergio Gunnella (Confavi Umbria), Evandro Caiello, Andrea Verzellini (Umbria hunting and nature), Claudio Tortoioli (Nata Libera Umbria Association). An appeal that comes the day after the hearing of the hunting associations and the consequent go-ahead for the draft of the hunting calendar arrived at the Commission.
A hunting calendar, we read in the letter, "which bears evident signs of animal rights frustrations, promotes this plea of ours, motivated by legitimate aspirations and expectations. Especially with regard to the removal of the 'African' turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur), which suffers from abstract alarmism, orchestrated by high-ranking animal welfare lodges, present even within the European Parliament. The same conclusions of the NADEG, originated by the European Commission, published on 6 April 2022 - it is recalled - have been updated and made available to the different peculiarities of the European territories.
In this sense, the Italian faunal condition emerges, where, unique in Europe, over 50% of the national territory is precluded from hunting, thus ensuring certainty of protection and safeguarding up to the surplus, for all species of wild animals ". Hence the request to include the turtle dove among the huntable species in the general opening. “This indispensable courageous decision - they argue - ensures the coverage and use of the whole territory in programmed hunting: preventing social conflicts; avoiding hunting accidents; ensuring diversified levies on all species on the calendar as a way of protection ". The letter further explains that the turtledove "enjoys a certain protection over more than 50% of the national territory".
"It is scientifically proven - it is added - that the reproductive contingents leave the areas as early as mid-August". And that “on XNUMXst September the breeding populations and in transit on Umbria they have been reduced by over 70% ". "For further protection - they conclude - a maximum number of personal collection of five garments is desirable". At the moment, the pre-opening for the turtle dove has not been included in the pre-adopted hunting calendar, on which it is necessary to untie the knot of card counting. The hypothesis proposed at the moment is to intervene later with an addendum, perhaps eliminating the date of 4 September (Still today).