The meeting between hunters and commissioner
On June 7th, an important technical table was held in the "Gilda Trisolini" room of the Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, requested in recent weeks by the AA.VV., in the presence of the Extraordinary Commissioner of the PSA, Prof. Vincenzo Caputo, the Assessor for Hunting, the Hon. Gianluca Gallo, the Metropolitan Councilor delegate Salvatore Fuda, the Director General of the Agriculture sector of the Calabria Region Dr. Giacomo Giovinazzo, the Dr. Giorgio Piraino Head of Veterinary Health, the ad interim Metropolitan Manager of the Hunting sector Ing Sunday Catalfamo together with a large delegation of officials and veterinarians of the ASP RC, all moderated and coordinated by the National Vice President of Federcaccia, Dr. Giuseppe Giordano. Delegations of hunting associations (FEDERCACCIA, ANLC, ENALCACCIA, ARCICACCIA, ANUU, ITALCACCIA, EPS and ANCA) were present, represented by their own regional and provincial managers. During the extensive debate, in the succession of interventions and important contributions provided by all the representatives of the AA.VV., articulated proposals of the associations were reiterated, in relation to the coordinated organization of the interventions starting from the search for the carcasses and the effective definition of the infected area and buffer areas, and also on the clarifications of the equally urgent activity of depopulation of the species, on the need to modify the ordinance of President Occhiuto, and on the preparation activities for the imminent hunting season.
Great industriousness
The unequivocal desire to speed up the times for a rapid resolution of the emergency emerged, in synergy and with "the attitude of concreteness". Councilor Gallo reported having received specific delegation from President Occhiuto for the management of the PSA emergency in Calabria. Important were the words of the Councilor for Hunting, who is working to allow the smooth running of the next hunting season, who highlighted how, thanks to the contribution of the hunting world, which in recent weeks has been demonstrating great industriousness, we are working Region to prepare a second Presidential Ordinance aimed at loosening the restrictions and removing the prohibitions which, to date, do not allow any ludic-recreational activity in the infected areas, including hunting, and this in compliance with Ordinance n. 2/2023 of the National PSA Commissioner.
Collective operations
The password to address and resolve the emergency, in no uncertain terms, is the depopulation of the wild boar species in the infected areas and also a drastic reduction in the buffer zone, to be implemented through collective operations with the technique of turning and the deployment on the field of the largest possible number of selecontrollers who, the Councilor points out, will be called upon to carry out not a hunting action but an essential public function in defense of the territory, recalling the driving value of the pig sector for the regional economy. Concepts reaffirmed and expanded by the Commissioner Prof. Caputo who, coining the term of "Bioregulators", addressed the hunters asking for a strong and unanimous commitment in order to implement a strong passive surveillance action through research, identification and the geolocation of the carcasses and activates, through the drastic depopulation of the wild boars with the activities listed above, all in a short time, guaranteeing the full support of the State.
Reminders to the Region
The Commissioner also urged the ASP managers to collaborate with the hunting world in order to ensure regular and timely management of the carcasses, highlighting the importance of reports of discovery coming from the area. The Commissioner urged the Region to set up a dedicated toll-free number as well as an information handbook to be disclosed to everyone. He also reiterated that any disturbing and obstacle actions by anyone who opposes the depopulation and research activities will see the penal sanctions envisaged and punished by art. 500 of the Penal Code (Dissemination of plant and animal diseases) and that "any acts of damage, tampering or obstruction of operations carried out during the capture operations for the depopulation of wild boars in restricted areas identified for the purpose of eradicating the PSA” the provisions of art. 340 of the Penal Code (Interruption of an office or public service or a service of public necessity) recognizing, in fact, the public utility of the function of the Hunter/Bioregulator. The Commissioner anticipated that the research will also use drones equipped with thermal sensors made available by the Army. In conclusion of the work, the representatives of the AA.VV., reaffirmed the need for urgent interventions for the management of the emergency also within the Calabrian protected areas. (the AA.VV. Calabresi)