Govind Tekale
A recent hunting expedition by Donald Trump Jr. in Venice’s protected lagoon has triggered significant environmental concerns and potential legal consequences after allegations emerged of killing a protected bird species.
The incident, captured in a video published by Field Ethos, an outdoor lifestyle brand co-founded by Trump Jr., shows him hunting in the Pierimpie‘ valley near Venice, within a special conservation area. The footage shows Trump Jr. pointing to a distinctive rusty orange duck among several dead waterfowl, identified by experts as a ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea).
“This is actually a rather uncommon duck for the area,” Trump Jr. states in the video. “Not even sure what it is in English, but incredible shoot.”
The ruddy shelduck’s protected status under both the EU Birds Directive and Italian law makes its killing a criminal offense. Massimo Buconi, president of the Italian Hunting Federation, stated: “At a glance it looks like a ruddy shelduck… in Europe, and in Italy, it is protected. You cannot hunt it.”
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Andrea Zanoni, a regional councillor in Veneto, has notified the Carabinieri environmental crime unit in Mestre. “The US president’s son killed a protected species in a protected natural area, and this is a serious criminal offence,” Zanoni stated. “No one should be above the law.”
The controversy extends beyond species protection to hunting permit regulations. Non-residents are only permitted to hunt on private reserves in Italy, raising questions about Trump Jr.’s authorization to hunt in the area.
Trump Jr.’s spokesperson, Andy Surabian, defended the hunting party’s actions: “While it’s unclear whether this single duck was unintentionally shot by someone in Don’s hunting group, another hunting group, or killed in a different manner and retrieved by the group’s hunting dog, Don takes following all rules, regulations and conservation on his hunts very seriously.”
The incident has drawn attention from Italian political figures. Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto is “waiting for a report,” while former Environment Minister Sergio Costa expressed being “horrified” by the case. “It’s as if Italy became Trump Jr.’s backyard,” Costa remarked.
Italian authorities are currently evaluating possible violations following Zanoni’s complaint. Under Italian wildlife protection laws, legal consequences could follow if violations are confirmed.
The case has broader implications for wildlife conservation and international hunting regulations. The ruddy shelduck’s future faces concerns from environmentalists as climate breakdown shifts its breeding range, making protection measures crucial for its survival in European territories
