Over the past weekend there has been a lot of talk about a very strange event that took place in Naples, precisely in the Wood of Capodimonte. This is the news that a seagull would have grabbed a small dog, whose mistress was a tourist traveling to the city, and lo would take away.
According to the protagonist of the story, the little dog was without a leash, despite being in an area where a leash is required, e it weighed about 1 kg and 800 grams. THE witnesses they said they saw the seagull capture the dog and then take it away, flying.
Ma is all this possible? To confirm the news there was also a councilor of the III Stella - San Carlo all'Arena Municipality, Carlo Restaino, who was told the story, so he is not an eyewitness.
I doubts we are given the particularity of the news and also the ornithologist Maurizio Fraissinet, a great expert in his field, believes that the news is totally unfounded, as Vesuvio Live also explains.
The ornithologist's explanation: it is not possible for a seagull to grab a dog and take it away
Maurizio Fraissinet explains that the news is scientifically unfounded and unproven and that a seagull can in no way be able to grab a dog and take it away in flight, however small and light it may be, like the Dwarf Pinscher in question.
Fraissinet has a lot of experience in his field and was a member of the National Council of WWF Italy as well as of the Scientific Committee of Legambiente. He has collaborated with the LIPU (Italian Bird Protection League) and is Regional Councilor of Campania, Vice President of the Assembly, Vice President of Federparchi and President of the Vesuvius National Park.
From the top of his skills he states that:
Il seagull has webbed legs, in order to capture a mammal and be able to fly it, you need birds birds of prey which are equipped with claws. These birds coming into contact with the mammal they use their claws which are like daggers that enter the flesh of the prey, then lift it and carry it away with their beak. The seagull, on the other hand, can only kill with its beak, it has no other weapons. And once it has killed with its beak, as it does with pigeons or migratory birds, it eats it on the spot because it has difficulty carrying it. Maybe he detaches a few pieces and takes them away with him but the pigeon is a light animal and has hollow bones. Let alone with a puppy dog that weighs a few pounds. In the ornithological scientific literature in recent decades, seagulls in all parts of the world have never been read about attacking dogs and taking them away. If anyone had seen such a scene it should be very accurate, I don't say film it, because it would be the first document case in the world.
According to Fraissinet the seagull could only have caught the little dog on the spot and pecked it to try to kill and eat it, but not grab it while flying. The evolution of the seagull has meant that its beak is suitable for grabbing small birds or fish and there is no evidence in the scientific world of what has been told about the Bosco di Capodimonte.
It would be, therefore, of a hoax. The ornithologist could give credit to the news if a colleague had filmed such a scene, proving that it may be true, but there is currently no documented evidence.
Fraissinet's appeal on information
The ornithologist underlines thecrucial importance to inform yourself with suitable sources before spreading certain news. Scientific-technical verifications are almost never done by turning to an expert and anyone who writes and communicates what he wants without verifying. In scientific field there is a lot of ignorance, continues the ornithologist, and this is a plague.
Italy leader in Europe on the study of urban seagulls
The scientist explains that theItalian ornithology has been studying the phenomenon of urban gulls for years which have now occupied the cities and makes a lot of disclosure about it.
We are leaders in Europe and a brochure with the Anci to explain the reasons behind these phenomena, also providing guidelines to institutions to manage it.
The brochure mentioned is very interesting and explains in detail everything there is to know about it.
