Andrea Zanoni, a regional counsellor and environmentalist, has reported Donald Trump Jr to the authorities for allegedly killing a protected species of duck while hunting in the Venice lagoon. The incident, captured in an online video, took place in the Pierimpie' valley, south of Venice, within Europe's special conservation area known as the Middle Lower Lagoon of Venice. The video, published by Field Ethos, a lifestyle publication marketed by Trump Jr, shows him shooting at ducks from a pit blind.
In the video, Trump Jr is seen addressing the camera, describing the scene as a "great morning" with "lots of wigeon, teal." He points to an orange-brown duck among several dead waterfowl and admits, "Not even sure what it is in English."
“Great morning, lots of wigeon, teal. This is actually a rather uncommon duck for the area. Not even sure what it is in English,” – Donald Trump Jr
The bird in question appears to be a ruddy shelduck, a species that spends its winter in southern Asia and migrates to south-eastern Europe or Central Asia to breed. The ruddy shelduck is protected under European and Italian wildlife protection laws. Andrea Zanoni emphasized the rarity of this bird throughout Europe and its protection status under both EU and Italian regulations.
“In the video, Trump Jr is seen with a ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) in the foreground – a duck that is very rare throughout Europe and protected by the European Union birds directive and Italian wildlife protection law” – Andrea Zanoni
Zanoni has submitted a formal query to the regional authorities regarding potential sanctions. He is seeking clarification on whether these sanctions would include suspending or revoking the license of the wildlife shooting company involved and holding those accountable for violating regulations.
“and those responsible for acts in violation of Italian and European regulations” – Andrea Zanoni
The regional council has yet to respond to requests for comment from AFP regarding their course of action. In their statement, they indicated they would "respond to the question in the time and manner it deems appropriate."
“respond to the question in the time and manner it deems appropriate” – Regional council
Neither Andrea Zanoni nor Donald Trump Jr responded immediately to AFP's requests for comment on the matter.