Animal rights groups on Tuesday called
on the European institutions to intervene to protect the bear
population in the northern autonomous province of Trento after
the provincial council on Monday approved a decree authorizing
the culling of up to eight 'problematic' bears a year in 2024
and 2025.
The Anti-Vivisection League (LAV) asked Brussels to open an
infringement procedure against the Province of Trento and the
Italian government in relation to the provision, which also
authorizes the forestry corps to put down "no more than" two
adult females and two adult males a year.
"The law is in violation of the European directive," said
Massimo Vitturi, referring to the Habitats Directive that also
protects large carnivores.
"We are also waiting for the European Court of Justice in
Luxembourg to rule on the future of JJ4, which is still waiting
to be transferred to the sanctuary that LAV has identified in
Romania," he added in relation to a female bear that attacked
and killed a trail runner in the province last April.
The International Organization for Animal Protection (OIPA) said
it would contest the provision at every possible level.
With it, Trento has "won the booby prize for biodiversity
protection and the first prize for failed prevention", it added.
Animal rights groups have repeatedly contested the hard line
taken by the Trentino government led by Maurizio Fugatti of the
right wing League in managing the local bear population, often
through the courts.
Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto has also said culling
cannot be the only solution to the problem of coexistence
between bears and humans in the northern autonomous province of
Trento.
"Bear culling cannot be the only alternative," said Pichetto.
"If what has been done so far with the province of Trento has
not been sufficient, the commitment - on the part of everyone -
must be to multiply efforts to find every possible solution to
guarantee peaceful coexistence in the territories," he added.
"I have once again mobilized all the structures under the
auspices of the ministry to draw up a timely strategy in which
culling should really be the extrema ratio," said the minister.
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