The thin border between the wonder of nature and human recklessness has collapsed on the banks of the Scanno reservoir, a famous Abruzzo village famous for its heart-shaped body of water. In just 48 hours, the peaceful coexistence between the local fauna and the crowd of holidaymakers turned into a near-tragedy with two separate attacks by a male deer that violently charged two men who were teasing it, causing them to fall to the ground before the terrified eyes of those present, including several children. The episodes, fortunately concluded without serious injuries, represent the breaking point of a management of the tourist flow that has now become unsustainable.
The viral video of the zoologist Paolo Forconi
The zoologist Paolo Forconi, who has always been at the forefront of protecting the environment and animals within the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, documented the gravity of the situation. The expert has released an emblematic film shot in the Abruzzo region on social channels: in the video you can see the usual crowd of onlookers surrounding the majestic ungulate at close range, with people intent on taking photographs, stretching out their arms to caress its coat or even offering food. Annoyed by the siege, the animal reacts by targeting a man and throwing him to the ground.
The countermove of the mayor Giovanni Mastrogiovanni
The escalation of incivility has forced city authorities to take urgent measures to protect public safety and the serenity of wildlife. The mayor of Scanno, Giovanni Mastrogiovanni, has decided to intervene drastically to repress the reckless behavior of visitors with an ordinance that will soon prohibit approaching deer. Mastrogiovanni said:
We are a country that has always stood out for its coexistence with wild animals: we should also raise awareness among tourists, not only to protect their safety but also to promote conservation and coexistence. For this reason we are considering making an ordinance that prohibits the approach, also to make clearer what should be normal behavior towards the wild animal.
The mating season and the relocation of the deer
The imprudence of passers-by is even more risky in this particular period of the year, the mating season, a moment in which male specimens demonstrate natural aggression linked to territoriality and mating. The mayor reiterated the need to maintain a respectful approach towards the ecosystem of the park and at the same time hypothesized the removal of the animal to transfer it away from inhabited centers:
It’s nice to watch them from afar, don’t get close or even feed them. It is also the mating season, so they should absolutely not be approached. Following what happened, the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park will probably proceed to collect the animal and transfer it to a more distant area.
The upcoming ordinance thus aims to put a definitive stop to rude tourism, protecting animals from risky intrusions that risk endangering not only wildlife but also people.
