Analisi comportamentale e casistica di ospedalizzazione: il caso studio del gheppio (Falco tinnunculus) nel centro di recupero per gli animali selvatici di Racconigi

Wildlife recovery centres are increasingly widespread on our territory, despite legislative gaps that do not adequately outline their role and requirements. Their regulation is indeed left to Regions and Provinces, resulting in lack of coordination and standardisation of procedures, leading, in some cases, to suboptimal allocation of already scarce resources and use of outdated practices, facilities, structures and tools. The first barrier to the exchange of good practices and the identification of common basic requirements is the lack of reliable and standardised data on hospitalised animals, recovery procedures and outcomes. This study was conceived as a pilot research on a specific aspect of animal recovery: the rehabilitation of natural behaviours. Its aim was to analyse whether keeping birds, and especially kestrels, inside big tunnel aviaries in the last period of stay in a C.R.A.S. has a positive impact on behavioural recovery. Kestrels were chosen because they are very common in our territory and can be found recovered in C.R.A.S. all over Italy. The study was conducted in the centre of Racconigi, in Piedmont. Through camera traps, behavioural data for four kestrels kept inside a big tunnel aviary over a period of two weeks, from July 17th to August 2nd, 2020, were collected. The videos registered were analysed through Boris and an adequate ethogram, focusing specifically on flight and landing occurrences. Results showed a generally positive trend: the occurrence of positive behaviours increased over the observation period, although with alternating peaks. It is also worth mentioning that, at weekends, all kind of behaviours were found to be more frequent and the rate of positive behaviours slightly increased, possibly related to the higher number of visitors in those days to the oasis where the aviary is placed. Additionally, also the Racconigi C.R.A.S. admission registers were analysed, for a general overview on the effectiveness of the practices and structures used. Results were very positive, with a success rate ending with animal release of 67% in 2020. A drastic increase in the yearly number of admissions from 2000 to 2020 was also observed, probably due to rising awareness on wildlife among the civil society and recognition of the C.R.A.S.’s role. However, it is also to be mentioned that, especially for birds of prey, a growing number of specimens taken to the centre from urban environments were actually found to be in good condition and not in need of care or recovery. Despite limitations, also connected to the covid-19 pandemic, this study shines a light on an often-underrated aspect of animal recovery: behavioural rehabilitation. This delicate phase requires structures adequate to the species: big tunnel aviaries are especially indicated for raptors, as data presented in this study show, because they are stimulated to perform many flight and landing tests before being released, thus bettering the chances and speed of natural behaviour recovery. The use of those structures should therefore be a standard requirement for all C.R.A.S. working with raptors. In this sense, this study also hopes to stimulate further research on this and other aspects of wildlife recovery, with the ultimate goal of improving and harmonising practices and capacities among C.R.A.S., which with their local presence play a crucial role in preserving Italy’s biodiversity reservoir and promoting a more balanced relation between humans and nature.