The situation is out of control
On the hills up to -50% production of black grapes and -30% of white grapes, in particular in the area between Fontanafredda, Cinto Euganeo and Arquà Petrarca (but reports also come from Turri), because of the wild boars. “These are the key days of the harvest - underlines Cia Padova -. The forecasts were excellent, both in terms of quantity and quality. Only to discover that dozens of rows have been attacked by ungulates, constantly searching for water and food." Above all, the vineyards that were not adequately fenced were attacked. “Where they roam, they take out everything. We don't yet have an estimate of the damage, but the order of magnitude is certainly hundreds of thousands of euros." Delimiting a one-hectare agricultural plot with a special fence, proof of wildlife, costs (on average) between 5 thousand and 8 thousand euros. “This is a further expense for agricultural entrepreneurs - specifies the president of Cia Padova, Luca Trivellato -. Between generalized price increases and adverse weather events, this is a new blow; there is no longer any certainty of income at the end of the agricultural year”. Furthermore, it happens that wild boars manage to break through the fences at night: they climb the vineyards and eat entire bunches of grapes.
Chronic emergency
“And they also seem to choose the grapes with care - adds Trivellato himself -. They go without fail. This is an emergency, which has become chronic, which must be addressed once and for all by the competent authorities." If until five years ago the presence of ungulates in the Colli Park was estimated at around 10 thousand specimens, today they would have increased to up to 15 thousand animals. “They continue to reproduce in an uncontrolled manner - observes Trivellato -. For every specimen that is contained by authorized selectors, two more are born." One of the immediately practicable solutions, he specifies, “is to give continuity to these operations, also through the use of cages and manhole covers. Otherwise, we are heading towards an increasing proliferation: consequently, the entire agricultural sector of the Euganeans is at risk."
African swine fever
And not only that, given that in recent times herds of wild boars have also been spotted in the plains, in Montegrotto and Ospedaletto Euganeo, always in search of food and water. Furthermore, these animals represent the main vector of African swine fever. “It has already manifested itself significantly in Piedmont, Liguria and Lombardy,” recalls Cia Padova. It is not transmissible to humans, but is highly contagious for domestic and wild pigs. Which is why, concludes Cia Padova, "in Veneto the need has emerged to adopt more stringent biosecurity measures in order to achieve the objective of total eradication of the virus from ungulates" (source: CIA).