BERN - The hare is at risk in Switzerland: WWF takes its cue from the Easter holidays and the omnipresent chocolate rabbits and not to remember the bitter fate of this shy mammal, increasingly under pressure due to the change of its habitat.
Currently in the Confederation there are on average 2,7 hares per square kilometer, with negative peaks of 1,5 specimens. They live mainly in the fields of the Mittelland, but they are becoming increasingly rare: a situation that in today's press release the WWF defines as "dramatic", considering that experts believe that a value between 2 and 6 is minimal for the maintenance of the species.
The reasons for the continued decline are many. First of all, the animal's living space is limited by urbanization and the fragmentation of the territory; Furthermore, hundreds of hares are victims of road traffic every year and intensive agriculture also has its share of responsibility. Finally, it should be remembered that, unlike rabbits, hares do not dig burrows and the young are therefore often victims of dogs, foxes or birds of prey.
According to the WWF, it is absolutely necessary to improve the framework conditions for the mammal. The environmental organization appeals to the municipal authorities and farmers: it is up to them to ensure that this species in Switzerland does not end up confined in children's books or find only a pale substitute in Easter bunnies.
Source: Corriere del Ticino