04/05/2016

Organized by the National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA) through its Department of Animal Reproduction, this event brought together scientists, professors, and technicians from INIA, IREC, the University of Seville, and the Hunting and Fishing Institute of the Andalusian Regional Government, as well as various representatives related to the sector (APROCA, UNAC, and partridge producers).

The general conclusions showed that the problem of the red-legged partridge has a multifactorial origin, and as such must be addressed in a joint and multidisciplinary manner, both from the scientific and management point of view by the administration, as well as by the different agents involved (hunters, farmers and ranchers).

Among the main causes identified for the decline in their wild populations and the poor hunting quality sometimes reported by the social hunting sector, genetic introgression with chukar partridges was highlighted. This, on the one hand, leads to behavioral problems in partridges released into hunting areas that impact their survival (abolition of the broody instinct and alteration of anti-predatory behavior). All of this highlighted the need to create genetic certification programs (such as the one developed in Andalusia) in all autonomous communities, but coordinated at the state level and with an official reference laboratory.

On the other hand, agricultural pesticides, the intensification of agriculture, and the general lack of sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural policies, in addition to the abandonment of mountain farming and forestry activities, have negatively impacted the partridge and other game and non-game species for decades due to the resulting habitat loss.

Opinion and action group on the red-legged partridge

Among the conclusions drawn by those present was the need to bring together all stakeholders involved in the conservation and management of the partridge under the umbrella of a discussion group to continue the debate already initiated at this Scientific and Informative Conference and to begin to outline concrete lines of action to define proper management and conservation of this species.

UNAC believes the creation of this opinion and action group on the red-legged partridge is essential to respond, once and for all, to a long-standing demand from hunters, which recently even became a popular initiative with widespread support among hunters, known as SOS RED PARTRIDGE.

More information:

Dr. Julián Santiago Moreno

Director of the Department of Animal Reproduction

National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA)

Puerta de Hierro Avenue, km 5.9

28040 Madrid.

Tel. 913474020

Fax. 913474014