Hunting: Hunters and Foresters engaged from today in the cension of wildlife, a necessary act in order to identify the animals to be taken.
AOSTA. The wildlife censuses on the regional territory have begun today. This monitoring, in force since 2001, when the selection hunt was launched, has become fundamental for the allocation of animals to be taken. «It is an activity in which hunters and foresters participate - says Alessandro Durand, president of the Regional Committee for hunting management -. We have identified historical locations throughout the territory to be able to estimate, with greater precision, the number of animals ».
In what quantitative situation is the Valle d'Aosta fauna? «The selection hunt has given excellent results - replies the president of the Aosta Valley hunters -. These are hunting methods designed to increase the species. They are basically conservative withdrawals ". That is to say, abatements lower than the annual increase. Durand exemplifies: "If we verify that a species has a 20 per cent increase, the withdrawals will never exceed 8, 10 per cent."
Christian Chioso, technician of the Wildlife Office, also guarantees the good trend of the species. Confirmation? "Just go for a walk in wooded areas and you can see it - he says -. The hunting samplings follow the objectives sanctioned by the Regional Wildlife Plan which foresee the achievement of the bearing capacity of the territory ».
Censuses are not planned only for huntable species. The Department of Agriculture and Forestry has provided for monitoring also referring to birds of prey. «Eagles, owls and bearded vultures - underlines Paolo Oreiller, director of the department - are important species in the food chain and, more generally, in the ecosystem. Their presence is more than stable. However - Oreiller informs -, in this period, we are intensifying the controls on the owl population, considering the frequent finding of dead specimens and alpine galliformes ».
Black grouse, rock partridge and rock partridge suffer, more than other species, the climatic variations and disturbances caused by human activity. «The results of the study will give indications on the most suitable operations to be carried out for their protection», concludes Paolo Oreiller.
Sandra Lucchini
Source: Aosta Today