Threats to the Reintroduction Program of the Northern Bald Ibis (<i>Geronticus eremita</i>) in Italy: A Forensic Investigation
The Northern Bald Ibis <i>Geronticus eremita</i> is an endangered species, and recently it was reintroduced in Europe by the Waldrappteam. The reintroduction program has been strongly threatened by several sudden deaths, mainly in Italy. The present study used a forensic approach to anal...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/1/66 |
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| author | Francesca Maccagnan Lorena Di Benedetto Giulia Rosa Rosario Fico |
| author_facet | Francesca Maccagnan Lorena Di Benedetto Giulia Rosa Rosario Fico |
| author_sort | Francesca Maccagnan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Northern Bald Ibis <i>Geronticus eremita</i> is an endangered species, and recently it was reintroduced in Europe by the Waldrappteam. The reintroduction program has been strongly threatened by several sudden deaths, mainly in Italy. The present study used a forensic approach to analyze all of the 27 Northern Bald Ibises found dead in Italy between 2016 and 2022, which were suspected to have been victims of poaching, and it followed the veterinary forensic guidelines. Human-related causes accounted for 60% of the deaths, including illegal hunting (30%), blunt force trauma (26%), and electrocution (4%). Natural causes, starvation (15%), predation (11%) and disease (7%), accounted for 33% of the deaths. 7% of the causes of deaths remained undetermined. This study uses a forensic approach to analyze, for the first time, the main causes of death in <i>Geronticus eremita</i> and highlights the relevance of detecting illegal actions related to endangered species and stopping the phenomenon of poaching. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:12:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8c0e61e5279c4c8ab4be63a0e6e4f022 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:12:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-8c0e61e5279c4c8ab4be63a0e6e4f0222023-11-16T14:18:39ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-12-011316610.3390/ani13010066Threats to the Reintroduction Program of the Northern Bald Ibis (<i>Geronticus eremita</i>) in Italy: A Forensic InvestigationFrancesca Maccagnan0Lorena Di Benedetto1Giulia Rosa2Rosario Fico3Centro di Referenza Nazionale per la Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale per la Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale per la Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyCentro di Referenza Nazionale per la Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, 58100 Grosseto, ItalyThe Northern Bald Ibis <i>Geronticus eremita</i> is an endangered species, and recently it was reintroduced in Europe by the Waldrappteam. The reintroduction program has been strongly threatened by several sudden deaths, mainly in Italy. The present study used a forensic approach to analyze all of the 27 Northern Bald Ibises found dead in Italy between 2016 and 2022, which were suspected to have been victims of poaching, and it followed the veterinary forensic guidelines. Human-related causes accounted for 60% of the deaths, including illegal hunting (30%), blunt force trauma (26%), and electrocution (4%). Natural causes, starvation (15%), predation (11%) and disease (7%), accounted for 33% of the deaths. 7% of the causes of deaths remained undetermined. This study uses a forensic approach to analyze, for the first time, the main causes of death in <i>Geronticus eremita</i> and highlights the relevance of detecting illegal actions related to endangered species and stopping the phenomenon of poaching.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/1/66forensic veterinary medicineillegal huntingreintroduction programendangered speciespoaching<i>Geronticus eremita</i> |
| spellingShingle | Francesca Maccagnan Lorena Di Benedetto Giulia Rosa Rosario Fico Threats to the Reintroduction Program of the Northern Bald Ibis (<i>Geronticus eremita</i>) in Italy: A Forensic Investigation Animals forensic veterinary medicine illegal hunting reintroduction program endangered species poaching <i>Geronticus eremita</i> |
| title | Threats to the Reintroduction Program of the Northern Bald Ibis (<i>Geronticus eremita</i>) in Italy: A Forensic Investigation |
| title_full | Threats to the Reintroduction Program of the Northern Bald Ibis (<i>Geronticus eremita</i>) in Italy: A Forensic Investigation |
| title_fullStr | Threats to the Reintroduction Program of the Northern Bald Ibis (<i>Geronticus eremita</i>) in Italy: A Forensic Investigation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Threats to the Reintroduction Program of the Northern Bald Ibis (<i>Geronticus eremita</i>) in Italy: A Forensic Investigation |
| title_short | Threats to the Reintroduction Program of the Northern Bald Ibis (<i>Geronticus eremita</i>) in Italy: A Forensic Investigation |
| title_sort | threats to the reintroduction program of the northern bald ibis i geronticus eremita i in italy a forensic investigation |
| topic | forensic veterinary medicine illegal hunting reintroduction program endangered species poaching <i>Geronticus eremita</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/1/66 |
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