Drones in the air to improve the census and localization of wild boars and farewell to the limits on killing. There is a broad front on the move to counter the advance of ungulates, a true nightmare for farmers not only from Catria to Sibillini but also in the peripheral areas of capitals and municipalities given the reports taken from news events. Wild boars near the school. Fear of residents: "We are afraid above all for children and the elderly" A real scourge that, according to estimates collected in the three-year period 17-20, affects an audience of about 1000 companies a year and costs the Marche Region, always over the of the 12 months, a figure of just under three million euros in damages from wildlife (about 810 thousand euros), costs for road accidents (about 1,4 million euros) and damage specifically caused by the wild boar (about 620 thousand euros).
The regional council and the hunting office have fielded a series of actions aimed at managing the massive presence of wild boars in urban and agricultural areas. It began last June when the memorandum of understanding was signed between the Region and other entities (Upi, Anci, Forestale, agricultural and hunting associations, zooprophylactic institute and all the Territorial Areas of Hunting) to introduce initiatives, coordinate all organizations in the protection of agricultural areas and regulate control in urban areas. The ultimate goal is one: limit damage to agricultural production and avoid risks to public safety. In addition to adopting preventive measures, there will be an action to reduce the number of the wild boar population pursued through the implementation of hunting and control plans. Plus, there are 70mila euros to cover the costs related to the purchase of materials and equipment for means of capture and fences to protect the land.
Alternatively, the farmer can contact the local hunting area of reference to have free means of prevention such as electrified fences, acoustic deterrents or olfactory repellents. The request will be accepted in particular when the crops to be "protected" are particularly appetizing for wild boar or have a high commercial value or the farm falls into a territory where damage from wild boar recurs. Furthermore, it can report episodes of damage from wild boar to agricultural production to the ATC which will be activated by making the hunters intervene, when it is possible to operate in hunting action, or requesting the intervention of the Provincial Police who will coordinate the killing operations deemed appropriate (shot, hunted, selection).
If in possession of a hunting license and after having attended special training seminars, the farmer, following communication to the Provincial Police, is always authorized to slaughter wild boars on its own cultivated fields with the selective technique. In the event that he is not in possession of a hunting license, the farmer can delegate a pickhunter of his trust. Alternatively, it is possible to set up traps for wild boars by participating in a 3-hour course organized by the sectors or farmers' associations. The most important news, however, concerns the removal of the maximum culling ceiling for specimens.
The Region therefore accepted the request that came from the base after that in first month of the current hunting season, on the basis of what was declared by the departments, consistent killing of wild boars was carried out, so as to almost reach the maximum authorized contingents, which show population consistencies such as to determine densities significantly higher than those reported in the respective wild boar management plans. For now there is no reference limit given that at present the data does not allow to identify a reference parameter. And precisely on this point (estimation and localization of the number of wild boars present in a territory), new technologies come to the rescue.
Searching for herds of wild boars is difficult (they are very mobile, take refuge among impenetrable vegetation, have nocturnal habits) for this reason the Councilor for Agriculture Carloni has "opened" the provision of drones with thermal imaging cameras. high resolution and zoom to quickly monitor large territorial expanses, even in inaccessible areas. The thermal and optical cameras detect the presence of wild boars even when they are shielded by vegetation or during the night. Thus it is easier to carry out complete censuses of ungulates, and not only on large portions of the territory avoiding the commitment of hundreds of operators. In this direction, in mid-January, an experimental activity will be carried out in the province of Ancona which will see the use of drones both for monitoring wild boars and in support of a numerical control action coordinated by the Provincial Police (Courier Adriatico).