We thank some animal welfare organizations for emphasizing the importance of work done by hunters in the activities carried out in the context of the various health monitoring plans of the wildlife in Italy. Our hunters, following the indications received from the Health Authorities, not only report any mortality phenomena in wild species, but collect numerous fundamental samples to establish the health level of the populations of wildlife. These activities, carried out completely free of charge, guarantee health institutions numerous samples for research activities that generate data aimed at having guarantees in terms of public security.
The first step in disease surveillance is the collection of biological samples, for this reason the main actors are hunters, many of whom have followed specific training courses not only for obtain hunting qualifications, but also health care, such as the "trained hunters" under the Community Regulations defined as the "hygiene package". It is precisely because of our experience, ability and collaborative spirit that experimental zooprophylactic institutes throughout the national territory rely on the hunting world for health monitoring activities. An example of this is the research project, incorrectly cited by an animal rights association aimed at raising unjustified alarm instead of information, in which the Associazione Cacciatori Trentini actively participated as the main stakeholder as well as doctors, veterinarians, managers of natural parks (https://www.izsvenezie.it/ungulati-selvatici-prioritizzazione-patogeni-strategia-sorveglia/ ).
This is because it is the extraordinary surveillance activity carried out by hunters that guarantees knowledge about the health status of wild populations and consequently the maintenance of the sanitary status for pets, giving guarantees in terms of public health because only a healthy territory can produce an equally healthy product. We cannot fail to mention that several international studies suggest that emerging zoonoses (Covid-19, Ebola, Sars, Zika, MERS, H1N1) originated from wildlife are likely to emerge and occur in regions with higher human population density and greater wildlife diversity, such as in Southeast Asia and equatorial regions.
Confirmation of this is that all emerging and risky diseases in terms of human safety have emerged in those areas of the world. Despite the continuous attacks and the incoherent allegations with the reality of some animal rights acronyms, the role of environmental sentinel typical of the hunting world is concrete and also recognized in the "One Health" approach, which returned to the fore after the outbreak of the pandemic from Covid-19. For this reason we must always be ready to show a collaborative attitude and make it concrete in those health surveillance actions that require our active participation.