A proposal to consider animal health aspects in the regulation of game management

Abstract

Armenteros, J.A., Barasona, J.A., Goadella, M. Acevedo, P., Górtazar, C., Vicente, J. (2013). A proposal to consider animal health aspects in the regulation of game management. Ecosistemas 22(2):54-60. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2013.22-2.09

Game species share diseases with humans, livestock and wildlife, hence their relevance. However, game species health is not considered in current Spanish hunting management regulation. This paper lists the main weaknesses of game management from the sanitary point of view: (1) insufficient enforcement of current animal health and movement regulations, (2) lack of a clear definition and classification of game farms, (3) uncertain status of interior wild boar fences or “cercones”, (4) lack of a proper classification of the hunting estates, (5) inadequate wildlife population monitoring, (6) lack of regulation on artificial feeding, (7) health risks associated to overabundance; (8) big game waste conflicts (9) poor veterinary inspection of hunted animals (10), lack of regulation of pharmaceutical treatments on game species, and (11) poor information flow within the administration departments. For each point, we propose changes to the hunting regulation, based on Spanish and international scientific literature.