The Abruzzo Region has launched a deer population containment program that will involve nearly 500 selective culls. The announcement comes from the mouth of Emanuele Imprudente, regional vice-president of the League for Agriculture, Hunting and Fishing. “In recent years, the damage caused by deer has exceeded the damage caused to crops by wild boars in many inland areas. Even from the data on the monitoring of deer populations in Abruzzo, it emerges the presence of a number of animals more than double that of 2018 in absolute terms,” explained Imprudente, commenting on the approval of the “Regional Hunting Calendar” for the 2024. .2025 season. A decision that has already raised the first controversies. Not only by animal rights activists, but also by some forces that support the majority of Governor Marco Marsilio.
Agricultural damage and road accidents
According to the data collected by the Region, between 2019 and 2023 the damage caused by deer to agriculture amounted to 895,340 euros and with those of 2024 they are expected to exceed one million euros. In addition to the damage caused to crops, there are road accidents caused by deer: 806 were reported in the period 2019-2023. To combat these phenomena, the municipal resolution approved by the Abruzzo Region provides for a series of selective culling and deer culling, which will begin on 14 October 2024 and end on 15 March 2025. The culling will exclusively concern the two regional districts of the region. Territories of Avezzano, Sulmona, Subequano, L'Aquila and Barisciano, outside the protected areas. According to Councillor Imprudente, the deer containment programme will make it possible to “deal with the overpopulation of this species in inland areas and to inaugurate a virtuous and effective path mainly in favour of the protection of natural habitats and all the wild populations present, but also in favour of hundreds of farmers in inland areas and all citizens and motorists”.
Forza Italia's “no” divides the majority
Curiously, among the first to criticize the approval of the deer containment plan, there are not only the opposition forces, but also some souls of the majority itself. “I am firmly opposed to the decision of the municipal council of Marsilio to authorize deer hunting in Abruzzo,” says Nazario Pagano, deputy and coordinator of Forza Italia for the region, in a note. “As a native of Abruzzo, I have a deep respect for the flora and fauna of our territory and I cannot help but recognize and defend the importance of some species, which have become symbols of the region,” adds Pagano, who is also president of the First Committee for Constitutional Affairs of the Chamber. The coordinator of the “blues” of Abruzzo therefore announces that he wants to “investigate the information published in the press”, in order to “evaluate all possible alternatives to such a massive massacre of deer in Abruzzo.”
WWF: “An ungodly choice”
The WWF also attacks the logging plan approved by the Abruzzo Region, speaking of “a decision that leaves us truly astonished, both in terms of naturalistic and ecosystemic logic and on a more emotional level”. The environmental association accuses the Marsilio council of acting only “to satisfy a small group of hunters, towards whom the president and vice-president of the Region are showing ever greater servility”. In doing so, the WWF note continues, “the vision of Abruzzo capable of coexisting with wildlife is being abandoned with impunity”.
Cover photo: Bruce Macqueen/Dreamstime
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