The millenary balance of one of the wildest jewels of the Aeolian Islands is dramatically broken by an eradication plan that continues to raise heated controversy. In the uncontaminated territory of the island of Alicudi, the local community and the main animal rights organizations are witnessing yet another forced round-up operation which has seen the capture of around 100 feral goats.
This new phase of transfers, which follows the controversial deportations already implemented last year, sees LAV, LNDC Animal Protection and the Vitadacani association with the Sanctuary Network on the front line. The coordinators of the animal rights groups have notified a formal warning to the competent authorities and forwarded a new request for access to the documents to discover the precise numbers of the animals taken and clarify the final destination reserved for them.
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The risks for wildlife and the critical issues of capture methods
The methods used for the collection of ungulates in the Aeolian archipelago present dramatic operational criticalities that put the safety of the animals at serious risk. During previous operations, the panic generated by the encirclement maneuvers pushed several subjects to fall into the void from the steep cliffs of the island, while the improper use of fishing nets stretched between the paths to block the escape routes caused the injury and death of several goats.
The detailed reports already filed with the Public Prosecutor’s Office also highlight how the captured specimens are piled up and held inside makeshift enclosures exposed to the extreme temperatures of the scorching sun. Torn from their state of total freedom, these creatures risk going from severe imprisonment to slaughter.
Proposals for ethical and sustainable containment
Goats have represented an essential identity and historical element for Alicudi for centuries, contributing to the ecosystem and the uncontaminated charm that attracts visitors from all over the world. LAV, LNDC Animal Protection and Vitadacani reiterate the absolute urgency of stopping these bloody operations to immediately start a rigorous census of the goat population present in the area.
Through the request for a direct discussion with the local administration, the associations propose to implement an ethical, scientific and bloodless birth control plan. The priority objective is to guarantee peaceful coexistence between the human population and island fauna, safeguarding the animals’ right to live in their natural environment.
