Serious setback for the Carinthian Waldrapp protectionists! The female Dieks, who grew up in the Rosegg zoo in 2020, was shot down illegally in Tuscany when she followed conspecifics into the winter area. The bird was needed for a breeding colony as part of a resettlement project.
“Based on the data transmitted by Dieks GPS transmitter, she died on September 26th in the Arno valley near Figline Valdarno,” said biologist Johannes Fritz from the Carinthian Waldrapp team. The bird was in a forest clearing and the integrated motion sensor showed little activity. The next data transfer then confirmed the worst fears. “Dieks probably only died after suffering for a long time. It is terrible for us to know that the life of this young bird had to end so painfully. “
“Every shot in return”
Illegal hunting is the leading killer of the European rapids in Italy. Most of the incidents are recorded in Tuscany. In the province of Livorno, for example, an Italian bird hunter was convicted for the first time for shooting down two bald ibises. Fritz: “Every shot is a setback, and a breeding area is also to be set up in Rosegg in the future. Dieks was very important for that. “
Comprehensive protective measures
According to a study by BirdLife, around 5.6 million birds are illegally killed or captured annually in Italy alone – mainly because of long-standing traditions. This also affects endangered migratory bird species such as the bald ibis, for which extensive protective measures are implemented in their breeding areas further north.