Italy's hunting season will end
on January 30 in most regions, with a few extending it until
February 10, with a death toll thus far of 15 dead and 49
injured.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) noted that, according to
the national association for the victims of hunting, that over
the five-month season 15 people had been killed and 49 had been
injured in accidents.
Moreover, some 178 confiscations and 170 criminal violations
had been reported by the 232 WWF volunteer guards, who alone -
WWF said - cannot fight against illegality.
Referring to the continuing of the hunting season in some
regions, the environmental association noted that while it is
true that it is officially limited to some species, poaching
likely continues due to a serious lack of monitoring in many
areas.
WWF noted that rare and protected species continue to be shot
and killed, including many species of birds, against Italian,
EU, and international law.
It added that the 323 WWF guards had put in almost 15,000
hours of service and had recorded 645 violations, 170 of a
criminal nature that were reported to the authorities, along
with 178 confiscations and fines totalling 172,500 euros.
Some 705 had been recovered, it added.
The Italian hunting association said it rejected all links
between hunting and poaching.
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