US President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, has been accused of killing a protected duck species while hunting in Italy’s Venice lagoon. A video from Field Ethos, an outdoor lifestyle publication co-founded by Trump Jr, shows him shooting and killing a rare ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) in the Pierimpie’ valley near Venice.
The bird is a protected species in both Europe and Italy, and its killing can lead to severe penalties. Andrea Zanoni, a regional councillor in Veneto, has questioned Trump Jr’s right to hunt in Italy as a non-resident and called for sanctions against those involved.
Trump Jr had visited Venice in December with his girlfriend and was seen shooting ducks from a foxhole in the video. The Italian Hunting Federation president, Massimo Buconi, confirmed that the bird appears to be a protected species and emphasized the importance of following local laws and regulations.
The incident has sparked concern among environmentalists, who fear climate change may threaten the global conservation status of the ruddy shelduck. A Green member of parliament, Luana Zanella, has escalated the matter to the environment ministry.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/04/donald-trump-jr-accused-of-killing-protected-bird-in-venice-lagoon