References to principal Regulations. Definition and function of Institutes for the wildlife management. Methods to estimate the consistency of the animal populations. Importance of carrying capacity for wildlife management. Damage caused by wildlife to human activities and possible containment strategies. Habitat improvement for wildlife. Main farming typologies of wildlife of hunting interest (wild ungulates, hare and pheasant) aimed to the different productions.
Notes from lessons and other textbooks and reference books, available at the Teacher and at the School Library.
Learning Objectives
The course will provide knowledge about the institutes for wildlife management and their functions, and about the criteria and the main tools used to get this aim.
The course will also provide theoretical and practical knowledge for different systems of farming and production of wildlife (deer, wild boar, hare, pheasant). The students will learn the organization and the functions of public and private institutions that manage the free-living wildlife.
They will also learn the various aspects of wildlife farming, both in relation to the single species and to the different productive destinations of animals.
The acquired knowledge will allow the students to work in the organization for the management of free wildlife, and for the wildlife farming, according to correct criteria of productivity and profitability of farms.
Prerequisites
Courses to be used as recommended requirements:
Animal morphology and physiology.
Homeothermic wildlife.
Animal nutrition and genetic.
Teaching Methods
The course provides 6 CFU
Total hours of the course: 150
(including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...):
Contact hours for Lectures :32;
Contact hours for field practice :16;
Seminars (hours): 0-6
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 100
Further information
During the teaching of the Course there are no intermediate examinations
Type of Assessment
Exam modality: oral examination on the subjects of lessons and of field practice.
Course program
Content (detailed programme):
References to the principal regulations for the management and farming of wildlife of hunting interest.
Definition and functions of the Institutes for the wildlife management. Criteria of habitat suitability for faunal purposes, and operational tools for the evaluation and monitoring of the territory in its various components. Methods to estimate the consistency of animal populations. Carrying capacity and its importance in management of wildlife. Damage caused by wildlife to human activities and possible containment strategies. Habitat improvements for wildlife.
General items about wildlife farming; outline of taxonomy. Wild ungulates and hare farming: morphological and physiological characteristics, ethology for the different types of production (meat, restocking). Management of farmed animals, breeding animals selection, animal feeding. Wildlife market in Italy. Planning and management of wildlife farms.
General information on farming of wild species; notes of taxonomy. Wild ungulates bred in Italy, morphological, physiological and behavioural characteristics. Rearing systems: intensive, semi-intensive and extensive. Techniques related to the target production of animals. Management of farmed animals. The market of wildlife in Italy. Design and implementation of systems for the rearing of wild ungulate.
Farming of hare: optimal location, structures, management of animals.
Farming of pheasant. Artificial incubation and analysis of the causes that can reduce the rate of hatching. Feeding in the subsequent age groups. Techniques for the release of the animals in nature, aimed at increasing the survival rate.