With the imminent start of the Hunting Season the controversies multiply; main arguments against the opening of hunting are excessive drought and forest fires of recent times.
In just over a week, the pre-opening of the hunt will be celebrated. Rifles also against turtle doves and blackbirds. Dog training started last Sunday. The hunting season will start on September 16th.
Despite the appeals of the associations (Lav and Lac) and the request of the MEP Andrea Zanoni (who is also Deputy Commissioner for Animal Welfare in Brussels), despite the drought this summer that is causing thousands of wild animals to die of thirst and starvation (huntable), the Veneto Region does not postpone the pre-opening, nor does it postpone the opening.
The response from ISPRA (Higher Institute for Environmental Research) arrived yesterday to confirm the request for these precautionary measures. In the opinion of the scientific technical institute recognized by the state and provided for by law 157, it is stated that the persistence of extreme climatic conditions means that the physical state of individuals belonging to wild species of mammals and birds is worse than in normal years as subjected to enormous physical stress.
In addition to the severe drought and very high temperatures, there is the total and prolonged lack of night dew which normally represents an important water source for the fauna. The situation that has arisen risks having, in the short and medium term, negative effects on the population dynamics of many species.
The greater energy expenditure to reach the reduced and strongly dispersed water sources reduces reproductive success and increases the mortality of young and adults, as they are more exposed to the risk of contracting diseases and being preyed upon. To the drought is added the extreme difficulty of feeding due to the reduction of berries, seeds and insects. ISPRA underlines the disappearance of habitats linked to aquatic ecosystems, the drying up of marshy areas with the consequent concentration of birds in a few areas that are still flooded.
«In this dramatic environmental picture - explains Zanoni - ISPRA deems it necessary to immediately suspend the training season for hunting dogs, which unfortunately has already begun. According to the Institute, the water crisis imposes a ban on hunting from stalking, because it can cause massacres of birds that concentrate on the few places with water. The ban is to be considered necessary above all because hunting from stalking is scheduled for pre-opening on XNUMX September, as decided by the Veneto for the turtledove and other species.
For waterfowl hunting, given the reduction of wetlands, it must be postponed at least to the beginning of October for ducks and other marsh species. Furthermore, for sedentary species, it is necessary to reduce the hunting period or limit the allowed game bag. Veneto Region, president Zaia, councilor Stival, where are you?
Source: CorrieredelVeneto.it