G.ufis, bats, wolves, shooting stars, sunsets in the most pristine nature. They are some of the suggestive experiences possible this summer thanks to the initiative of the WWF by Night Oasis.
Oasis WWF by night
The activities at night are part of the rich calendar organized in 15 WWF Italy Oasis in the summer months to celebrate 15 years of collaboration with Sofidel (one of the world leaders in the production of paper for domestic use, known for the Regina brand). The collaboration project is called ReNature Italy and aims to help protect the natural capital of our country, reverse the loss of biodiversity and promote the coexistence between man and nature, for the benefit of current and future generations.
In the rich calendar of activities, those at night promise to be among the most fascinating and particular:
On the trail of the wolf
Oasis Guardiaregia-Campochiaro (prov. Campobasso) Saturday 23 July “On the trail of the Wolf – Wolf Howling Night“: An evening event of wolf howling in Oasis, guided by a naturalist expert in wolves, to learn about the world of this animal species within their habitat and listen to its wonderful howl.
Dedicated to children. What do owls eat?
Oasis Gorges of Sagittarius (from L’Aquila) Saturday 23 July “What do owls eat?”: An afternoon event dedicated to children to discover the owl, one of the most important and fascinating nocturnal birds of prey. The activity will allow you to discover everything about these majestic birds, in particular what they are greedy for and how they manage to eat in the dark of the night.
Shooting stars, lying in nature (and with the telescope)
Ghirardi Oasis (prov. Parma) Friday 12 August “The Tears of San Lorenzo”: A unique experience in the night of the Hesperides, the cloud of cosmic dust and debris crossed every year by the earth’s orbit, which gives rise to the meteor shower or, more poetically, shooting stars. Lying on the lawn next to the visitor center, you can observe the phenomenon together with the experts on the day of maximum intensity. It will also be possible to observe the planets through the telescope made available.
On World Bat Day …
Also in the Ghirardi Oasis, Friday 27 August “Flights in the Night”: Naturalistic guided tour on the occasion of the World Bat Day, discovering the secret inhabitants of summer nights: moths and bats. With the help of tools such as ultraviolet light lamps and bat-detector, we will go in search of these two groups of animals, prey and predators, to discover how evolution has made them suitable for hunting and escaping, in the secret of darkness. He will also be shown how to help scientific research by reporting his observations through the app iNaturalist.
In the oasis at sunset
Alviano Oasis (prov. Terni) In the first days of September “In oasis at sunset”: A beautiful evening to fully enjoy the beauty of nature at the end of summer: a walk in the Oasis at sunset, with a convivial dinner and stargazing.
The rules for visiting a WWF Oasis
But visiting an Oasis or a Nature Reserve is not a simple “picnic”: here are the useful tips to make the most of the experiences in nature while fully respecting the animals that inhabit them and the environment.
No food
Maintaining the right distance between humans and animals is an assurance of their and our safety. Carrying food with you during the visit could attract predators such as bears, wolves and foxes, making them too confident making humans no longer a potential threat but an easy source of food in their eyes.
Speed limits
For many animal species the impact with means of transport along the roads crossing natural areas is one of the most important causes of mortality. Especially at night, but in general, it is a must to proceed slowly. In some parks, WWF has installed special signs along with optical bollards to help animals avoid going to the most dangerous roads.
Eye and ear to gunshots and acoustic calls
The periods in which hunters are allowed to shoot are established by law. Usually the hunt ends on January 31 and, even in open hunting periods, it is forbidden to shoot on Tuesdays and Fridays (hunting silence), but the criminals are always in action, unfortunately. If during periods of hunting silence you hear gunshots, immediately notify the police forces or the WWF volunteer guards.
Warn the police and the guards even if you hear the very repeated cries of the same birds in a forest or in the countryside, especially at night. They could be acoustic bird calls, used by poachers and poachers to easily lure and catch numerous species such as quail, larks or ducks with nets, traps or rifles. It is forbidden to use them during hunting, but they can be freely sold (even by shops specialized in hunting articles) and detained.
Wild animals? No thank you
Wild animals are the patrimony of the State and it is forbidden to keep them except in special cases. If you happen to see animals such as goldfinches, blackbirds, hedgehogs, diurnal and nocturnal birds of prey, foxes or other wild animals, even exotic ones (such as parrots or reptiles) held by private individuals, report it to the authorities so that they can verify that who holds is actually authorized to do so. Likewise, do not buy wild animals, live or stuffed, even with the intent of stealing them from their owners to save them. The gesture, even if done in good faith, can help stimulate the seller to continue with the business. Instead, it is important to ask the authorities to intervene in order to verify the legitimacy of these sales.
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