Ticino: Hobby hunters shoot nursing hinds
The Office for Hunting and Lies in Bellinzona has been failing for decades to issue ethical directives or to scientifically regulate wildlife populations in a sustainable manner.
Deer are damaging vineyards and agricultural areas in Ticino. According to the Office, hobby hunters are unable to shoot enough deer to bring the damage to an acceptable level.
The same Office writes: The cull plan in 2020 was set at 2’090 deer. It was exceeded by 31 animals, as the total harvest reached 2’121 animals. In 2021, the cull plan was set at 2’205 animals; 2’183 animals were shot — a quota of 99%.
«In 2021, 67% of damage was caused by deer (64% in 2020), while wild boar were responsible for 29% (31% in 2020). 3% (as in 2020) is caused by roe deer and chamois grazing on the young spring shoots of the vines, while the remaining 1% (2% in 2020) is caused by crows.
In the annual report on the 2021 hunting season by the Office it also states: «It is pleasing to note that damage to crops is steadily declining...»
In the federal hunting statistics, «deer damage» is not even listed, although these wild animals are constantly used as scapegoats everywhere. Only «wild boar damage» is mentioned there.
Animal welfare organisations are appalled by the new regulation:
In our view, this clearly violates the Animal Welfare Act and any hunting ethics.
Director of the Swiss Animal Protection specialist division, Samuel Furrer.
Because when the hind is shot, the calves are left alone. “They are then sometimes three or four months old, still dependent on their mother — on the one hand because they are still nursing, and on the other because they lose contact with the rest of the herd”, says Furrer. This condemns them to death.
Do the damages outweigh the costs?
That something is happening here that should not actually be happening is also essentially the view of the Ticino authorities.
When we see the enormous damage that deer cause to farmers and trees, we have no choice.
Andrea Stampanoni from the Ticino Office for Hunting and Fisheries
Because this solution for reducing the deer population is problematic, this new regulation applies only at certain elevations. In addition, hobby hunters may shoot only one nursing hind during the five-day period.
Unfortunately, it is repeatedly concealed that the deer are in the forests because of these hunting offices and their lies, and are «causing damage».
IG Wild beim Wild
They are constantly felling trees and this is the result
When it rains in Ticino, major damage from landslides is becoming increasingly common, including recently (8.9.2022) near the Musician Silvan Zingg.
„A river of water and mud has entered my house. My piano, the double bass, my paintings — all overwhelmed by this raging flood». Silvan Zingg is one of the residents of Manno whose home was devastated by the landslide that swept into the town last night. He tells Radio Ticino about that stream which swells to frightening levels during heavy rain, and about the appeals that have fallen on deaf ears.
„I live right at the mouth of thestream", he explains, "when it rains heavily, you have to be afraid. I have reported this to the town hall several times, but without success. It also has to be said that they are constantly felling trees and this is the result. The forest is here to protect us. If these basic things are not understood… ».
