Ragusa authorities authorize fallow deer containment amid animal rights protests

A new regional measure in the province of Ragusa, Sicily, has authorized the containment of fallow deer (Dama dama) in specific areas, including the territories between Giarratana, Monterosso Almo, and Chiaramonte Gulfi. Effective as of August 16, 2026, the directive from the Regional Department of Rural Development allows authorized assistants to carry out culling operations.

Animal rights organizations, including LAV Ragusa, OIPA Ragusa, and Leidaa Iblea, have strongly condemned the decision. LAV Ragusa characterized the measure as a “death sentence” and an unscientific shortcut, arguing that the use of hunters to manage wildlife lacks an ethical and systemic vision.

Advocacy groups are calling for the revocation of the authorization and proposing alternative methods for population control. Suggested alternatives include fertility control through immunocontraception, the capture and relocation of animals to protected reserves, and improved agricultural protections such as electrified fencing and acoustic deterrents to prevent crop damage.