Since the XNUMXs, there have been controlled reintroductions of ungulates by the State Forestry Corps, but in the following decades there have been numerous clandestine reintroductions of wild boars from Eastern Europe by groups of hunters. And over time, although in Tuscany there is a long hunting season and many hunters, the growth of these species has gotten out of hand. The debate is also about hunters: are they a resource or are they an integral part of the problem?
Even Giuseppe Liberatore, director of the Chianti Classico Consortium, had his say: "We have been waging this battle for 6-7 years now, but today the situation of ungulates is completely out of control, so much so that now, not only are there problems for production - it accounts for 5/10% - but also for safety. We need to think differently throughout the territory, including suitable areas and protected areas, and above all to pass from words to deeds ".
Possible measures and objectives. At the moment the regional law of reference is the n.3 / 1994, but it is evident that it has not worked. A glimmer could come from the specific objective law for the management of ungulates proposed by the Regional Councilor for Agriculture, Marco Remaschi, with the support of the Ministry of the Environment. Among the innovations envisaged, the transfer of powers on hunting from the provinces to the Region and regulatory uniformity throughout the regional territory.
Furthermore, the non-suitable areas can be managed with selective forms of hunting for all the species concerned and for a long period of the hunting calendar. Furthermore, farmers will be given the opportunity to manage the catches on their own funds and to start a meat supply chain. The goal is to limit the presence of ungulates within three years. But first we need to get its approval, which could come in the spring, even if too many aspects are still under the crossfire of the hunter, animal rights and farmer lobbies. In short, there are still many things to discuss, but at least it is a step forward.
Ungulate database: analysis of a phenomenon. In a 2009 publication of Ispra (Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) entitled “Ungulate Data Bank. Status, distribution, consistency, management and hunting collection of ungulate populations in Italy ”, referring to the period 2001-2005, the situation was already well defined. "Tuscany", reads the document, "confirms the region with the highest number of withdrawals with 42.223 animals culled during 2004-2005 (although the data of Pisa and Massa Carrara are missing), followed by Liguria (15.275), Emilia -Romagna (12.827) and Piedmont (12.662), all with more than 10.000 animals taken annually.
Analyzing the data of withdrawals at the provincial level, the concentration of the same in the central and north-western area of the country clearly emerges. More than 5.000 animals are slaughtered annually in the province of Florence (5.021), Genoa (6.525), Siena (9.733), Arezzo (10.361) and Grosseto (10.980). Between 3.000 and 5.000 heads are instead taken in the provinces of Cuneo, Savona, Parma, Bologna and Perugia. Considering the data of game bags in terms of sampling density, the values above 25 animals per km2 stand out in two Ligurian provinces (Genoa and Savona) and in two Tuscan ones (Siena and Arezzo). Values between 15 and 25 head per km2 are recorded in the other two Ligurian provinces and in Grosseto and Livorno ”.
The five black beasts for viticulture. Germany is the kingdom of raccoons. These are not native animals, but introduced by Nazi air force chief Hermann Goering in 1934, after deciding Germany did not have enough wildlife. Without natural predators and ideal geographic conditions, raccoons, raised like rabbits, destroy agriculture across the country. The all-time high was reached in 2005 when they destroyed an entire grape crop in the Brandenburg region. There are now more than a million in Germany and the government responds to the emergency with regular culls.
In South Africa, grape predators respond to the name of baboons. The unique thing is that they have developed a refined taste and devour only the best grapes. In particular they are greedy of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the sweetest version, but if the bunch is sour they throw it on the ground. In addition, this species nibbles the young shoots of the vine, leaving nothing behind. What to do? It is illegal to shoot and kill baboons in South Africa, so vineyard owners can only build fences around their vines.
In California - particularly in Sonoma - the danger comes from above: here the birds are the real nightmare of producers. Among the possible remedies adopted, the covering of the vineyards with nets. But there are also those who have put hawks in circulation to scare the flocks of birds.
Moving to North America, instead, we come across some people who are greedy for sweet fruit, leaves and grapes. Producers, to run for cover, have put in place different systems, from the most traditional to the most ingenious: electric fences, animal repellents, natural remedies such as garlic juice or egg spray.
The Italian black beast, on the other hand, is the wild boar. The most affected region is Tuscany, where there are around 200, but there are no shortages in other parts of the country either: in Genoa, urban wild boars sift through the waste, as do the foxes in London. The best solution? Apart from the proposals under consideration, one of the paths followed - with the usual Italian savoir faire - was the introduction of a local cuisine centered on wild boar (also thanks to hunters: cause or solution of the problem?). The damage continues to be severe, but at least you cry with a full belly.
(November 25, 2015)
Source: GamberoRosso