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Hunting and Trapping

LIPU-UK was founded in 1989 and since then has been successful in supporting LIPU, the Italian League for Bird Protection, the BirdLife Partner in Italy, in many ways. LIPU-UK members have been to Italy to help on the ground with various projects and members and friends have together raised money totalling over £500,000 which has been spent on direct conservation work in support of the birds in Italy.

Italy has a decreasing but still large number of hunters, many of whom habitually and deliberately break the laws of Italy and Europe when they shoot huge numbers of protected birds. Another problem is the trapping and netting of songbirds such as robins to be eaten in restaurants, this is also against the law. Against all of these problems LIPU works throughout the year.
On the right this Robin has been caught in a trap and is held by its legs which are probably broken. It is waiting for the "hunter" to come along and kill it for the illegal restaurant trade. Please see the Trapping page for more details. This Osprey was shot down at the Straits of Messina. The migrant birds cross from Sicily to Calabria in Spring and many thousands were killed for "sport". Please see Hunting for more information on this.

Progress is being made and the situation is a lot better than it was in the 90s, but it is a slow process and there is still a long way to go. In 2008 LIPU-UK is supporting five major projects in Italy including the brave efforts to stamp out the trapping of song birds around Brescia and support of the anti poaching camp at the Straits of Messina.

Help is still needed and you could play a part by joining LIPU-UK and knowing that your membership subscription of just £15 per year will be making a vital contribution to the safety of birds both in and over Italy. For more information please e-mail me now, or drop me line at:

David Lingard (LIPU-UK), Fernwood, Doddington Road, Whisby, Lincs, LN6 9BX, UK.