There are about 700 hunters qualified in the province of Varese for the collective hunting of wild boars, that is the hunting of those animals carried out in groups, out of the 3000 total hunters with the license to enable hunting.
And others, however, are needed in order to restore the natural balance to the province: the proliferation of wild boars is considerable in our areas, food is scarce for them, the tendency to reach urban areas (where food is found) increases. In the absence of animal antagonists, which in this case are wolves (predators of wild boars), and in a world where, rightly, the hunting of every wild animal is regulated, the role of the hunter becomes fundamental.
For this reason, the qualification course for aspiring wild boar hunters in collective form is scheduled for next 22 September. Registration applications can be downloaded from the website www.fidc-va.eu and delivered once completed to the headquarters in via Piave in Varese by 15 September. The course, organized and promoted by Federcaccia, was presented this morning at Villa Recalcati in the presence of the president of Federcaccia Dario Carcano, the Vice-president of the Province of Varese Giorgio Ginelli, the provincial councilor Fabrizio Mirabelli and the presidents of the provincial hunting territorial areas: Luca Maffioli, President of the Atc 1, the territory from Lake Varese upwards, Silvio Tomasini, President of the Atc 2, of the territory that goes from Varese to the southern limte of the province, also including the Ticino park and Lino Passalacqua, President of the North Verbano Alpine District.
The presentation of the initiative, which will be held only upon reaching 40 students and which includes 29 hours of lessons, including intense lessons (from wild boar biology to the relevant legislation, from ecology lessons applied to the treatment of treated garments), was also l 'opportunity to review the situation on wild boar hunting: "Let's start from the Federcaccia course - said Vice President Ginelli - this initiative has on the one hand the objective of recruiting new hunters for this type of hunting, and on the other of training them adequately, as it is a discipline that requires great attention. It is a great opportunity for those who want to try collective hunting ». In reality, however, it is not only the course that is part of the 2015 initiatives for hunting wild boars: "The initiatives implemented by the province also provide for the early opening of the selection hunt (hunting carried out by single qualified hunters), a plan of collective hunting which allows and provides for the killing of about 1200-1400 wild boars, about half of those that are now free in the woods, the involvement of farmers who can select the species if in possession of a regular hunting license and above all, the 'introduction of the possibility of "turn", a sort of collective hunt done in smaller groups, with only one authorized dog. It will be introduced in the southern part of the province and in some northern territories, and should make "work" easier for those who participate ».
A job that has a significant annual cost for the hunter (only taxes, insurance and qualifications just under 600 euros a year) and an equally important value for the community: "Let's face it: either hunting is to be considered land management, or it is better to close - commented provocatively, but not too much, the president of ATC1 Luca Maffioli - The hunter has, in a context like ours, the function of managing the environment similar to that of the farmer, and as such he must be treated, both by those who practice it ".
The least that can be done, for enthusiasts who in fact hold a role of support for forest guards, shoot down dangerous animals on the recommendation of the Region (The hunters who have the qualification to the so-called "article 41" which allows them to shoot of the authorities in case of need), they maintain the fanuistic equilibrium by taking on the costs of enabling them, it is to give them a few less difficulties: and this is what the new rules try to do. "Even if hunting wild boars, which move at night, with the times allowed to hunters, who have to lay down their weapons in the evening, is not so easy" they admit from Federcaccia.
However, the understanding is unanimous "Maintain the natural balance, where possible, taking into account that we are talking about volunteers, or rather people who do it for pleasure". And who have the task, with their sport, of avoiding accidents (58 due to wild boars in 2014 alone) or damage to farmers (68 thousand euros in total in 2014. And it is already a sharply decreasing number: in 2013 the damage amounted to 146 thousand euros), and therefore have a role in the Varese ecosystem. Last year, 823 animals were killed with collective hunting; 98 killed in application of articles 41 and 30 with selection hunting, for a total of almost 1000 animals. This year, the goal is at least 50% higher.
by Stefania Radman
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