Protected fauna: Valli del Pasubio, golden eagles leave the nest with some eggs because they have been disturbed by a pseudo-naturalist photographer.
Don't touch those nests! This is the appeal that the Provincial Police and the State Forestry Corps address to the citizens during a joint conference at Palazzo Nievo after the absurd episode that occurred in Valli del Pasubio a few weeks ago. Claudio Meggiolaro, commander of the Provincial Police, accompanied by Inspector Francesco Nassi, told the story. “It concerns the nesting of a pair of golden eagles right on the slopes of the Pasubio. It hasn't happened for a very long time that these birds of prey laid their eggs with us. Their population is very small and a birth would have represented an exceptional event as well as beautiful for our territory. Unfortunately we are conditional because, after having laid the two eggs, the pair of birds has abandoned the nest and hatching. Man's fault, of course ”.
Not a hunter or an animal activist, but in all probability a photographer who hopes to make a few hundred euros from the images. “Only for this reason - continues Meggiolaro - he cut several hornbeams with the chainsaw and his noisy intrusiveness, 60-70 meters from the nest, made the eagles go away. The result: no births, another heavy environmental damage that is added to that of the disfigurement of a place of community interest, included in the 2000 Network ”. Not over, because a few days ago the abandoned and unopened eggs were removed by unknown hands, to end up on the tables of some collector.
"For our part - underlines the provincial manager Adriano Arzenton - we have reported everything to the Prosecutor's Office and we continue investigations to identify this fanatic, no other definition is possible, who has done this mess". He risks a hefty fine but above all a criminal complaint and a trial for a whole series of crimes that go as far as aggravated theft to the detriment of the state. “There is no direct rule - explains Arzenton - that prevents the repetition of these episodes, for example the ban on going near the nests in this period, but the perpetrators can still be heavily prosecuted. Among other things, golden eagles are protected by the Washington Convention and this makes us understand how delicate their protection is ”.
Among other things, the investigations may already be at a turning point, but in the meantime Marina Bizzotto, chief commissioner of the State Forestry Corps, swamps the collaboration between the two green police and specifies: "If you find a wounded bird of prey or a fallen nestling touch it but call our switchboards. And do not go near the nests during the hatching - I am thinking for example of the black grouse - because you could cause them to be interrupted. Returning to the eagles, there are very few of them here and this has been a great damage. As well as stealing their eggs, which could have been the object of study and analysis ”.
Whether day or night, the injured birds of prey (but only 25% by more or less aware hunters) will be treated by Alberto Fagan's Arcugnano center or even by a veterinarian affiliated with Palazzo Nievo. "Every year - Meggiolaro and Bizzotto underline - about 120 specimens are treated - but a case like that of Valli del Pasubio had never occurred". Where the stupid dare it is often a ruin for the surrounding eco-environment.
31 May 2014
Source: VicenzaToday