Asti's Provincial government initiates a war against pigeons, allowing individuals with hunting licenses to use firearms for their elimination
The small Italian town of Asti has found itself in the midst of a heated debate over a proposed pigeon control plan. The regional authority's decision to authorize culling as a management strategy has raised concerns among environmentalists and animal rights groups.
The high concentration of pigeons in certain areas has become a pressing issue. For instance, Isola d'Asti boasts nearly 3,000 pigeons per square kilometer, followed closely by Nizza Monferrato with 1,900. Meanwhile, the Langhe Astigiana communes of Vesime and Cessole have lower pigeon populations, with Bubbio at 1,844 and Monastero Bormida at 1,500.
Maria Ferlisi, the PD's group leader in the city council, has proposed an interpellation to control the pigeon population in the city, arguing that it poses a concrete public health issue. However, the environmentalist group SEqus considers Ferlisi's stance as purely ideological, viewing the issue as an environmental concern rather than a public health one.
In response to the growing problem, the Province of Asti is implementing a containment plan to reduce pigeon numbers. This plan involves the use of capture traps in strategic points of higher pigeon concentration in residential areas. However, hunting of pigeons is not permitted in residential areas. Those who wish to participate in the hunting will need to undergo a specific course organized by the Province and possess the necessary permits.
Wildlife enforcement agents will be responsible for monitoring the progress of the containment plans. The census in Asti's hunting sector reveals a shocking concentration of pigeons: a staggering 14,000 per square kilometer. The Province is also organizing a course for those interested in participating in the pigeon hunting.
The controversy surrounding the pigeon control plan has sparked debates between those who want to reduce urban droppings and those who don't consider it an environmental issue. As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the town of Asti will navigate this contentious issue.
[1] The environmental and health-related implications of the pigeon overpopulation outside controlled areas are a cause for concern, as the current controversy suggests. However, specific details on the opposition or support from local stakeholders are limited in the provided search results. Further information would require sources outside the current search results to provide a more detailed account of the perspectives of animal rights groups, residents, or ecological experts.
- The average concentration of pigeons in the various towns and communes of Asti warrants attention, with some areas recording high densities that may impact both public health and the environment.
- The ongoing debate about the pigeon control plan in Asti extends beyond just general-news headlines; topics of discussion encompass environmental science, politics, and animal rights.
