Sterilization of otters living in the Bergamella park, in the territory of Sesto San Giovanni, avoiding killing them. Otters are considered pests and regional law provides for the ability to initiate sterilization programs. Following the example was the Lombard municipality, whose administration has decided to finance the sterilization with minimally invasive techniques promoted by the Lav (Anti-vivisection League) of Milan. «The degree of civilization of a community - comments the mayor of Sesto, Roberto Di Stefano - is also measured on the basis of treatment that is reserved for animals who share with us the spaces on the territory. We are proud to be among the first municipalities in Italy to protect otters without causing them unnecessary suffering.
As soon as we were contacted by the Lav we immediately made ourselves available to collaborate on this a project that we hope will be an example for many other municipalities". The sterilization project was launched on May 28 with the involvement of the Unconventional Animal Center of the Veterinary Department of the University of Turin which, with its mobile clinic, will sterilize the otters captured by the Lav volunteers. The interventions will be conducted laparoscopically, allowing the otters to be released into the wild already half an hour after sterilization (Milan Today).