BOLZANO. The WWF of Trentino Alto Adige also intervenes in the acquittal of the South Tyrolean game warden who had been reported by the Lav for having a fox found injured on the side of a road was killed after an investment.
“We write about the episode (September 2021, province of Bolzano) which had as its protagonists a Common Fox (Vulpes vulpes) seriously injured on the roadside following an investment and a gamekeeper, who put an end to its suffering with brutal methods to say the least,” reads a note sent by Karol Tabarelli on FatesWWF Italia regional delegate for Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. “While the act was permittedas the newspapers that have covered it in recent days explain to us absolution of the person in question, and motivated by the need to avoid further suffering to the animal, we believe that the time has come to open a debate on how to deal with similar situations in a more humane and respectful way. The Autonomous Province of Bolzano is a reality rich in resources, both economic and professional. In such an advanced context, it is necessary to ask ourselves whether it is not possible to adopt more civil and adequate methods of intervention”.
“ We believe that in the case of wildlife investment, the Emergency management should be entrusted exclusively to veterinary medical personnel”, says the WWF. “It is clear that accidents involving wildlife require immediate responses, but this must not happen at the expense of an ethical approach, certainly far from “climbing the animal with your boots and stabbing it”. The presence of veterinarians could ensure that every decision is made with full respect for the animal’s dignity, with appropriate tools and procedures. Furthermore, a veterinary emergency network could also increase, when possible, the chances of recovery of the animals themselves, rather than immediately resorting to culling. We trust that this reflection can stimulate a constructive discussion and lead to an improvement in the procedures currently in force, involving, why not, the Order of Veterinary Doctors of Bolzano, in the awareness that something “innovative”, on their part, could be proposed ”.
“We take this opportunity to ask the competent offices of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, who have not given answers considered satisfactory elsewhere, what action was taken against the Game Warden who killed on 13 April 2021 at Pineta di Laives (BZ) (and disposed of in a manner that was at least questionable) a Golden Jackal (Canis aureus), a particularly protected species under Law 157/’92. The Gamekeeper admitted to having killed the little Canid, mistaking it for a common Fox; same mistake that cost the life of another golden jackal in Val Pusteria in 2009; one would suggest that with the expansion of Canis aureus further and further West with respect to its original range, it would be appropriate to train hunters properly, to avoid confusing particularly protected species, which are evidently not huntable, with species of hunting interest… ”
(photo by Karol Tabarelli of Fatis)