Donald Trump Jr. is under scrutiny following allegations that he illegally hunted a protected species of duck while on a hunting excursion in the Venice lagoon last December. Regional counsellor Andrea Zanoni reported Trump Jr. to the authorities after viewing a video from Field Ethos, a media outlet co-founded by Trump Jr., that displayed him shooting at various ducks, including a Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), which is protected under Italian law and the EU Birds Directive.

Zanoni claimed that shooting this rare species is a criminal offense and emphasized, “this is a species protected throughout Europe by the EU birds directive and of course by Italian law.” The hunting event occurred in a Natura 2000 conservation zone, noted Zanoni, raising further concerns regarding Trump Jr.'s compliance with legal hunting activities in Italy.

In the nearly six-minute video, Trump Jr. describes his hunting success, referencing multiple duck species and highlighting the presence of what he identifies as an unusual duck, reportedly not even knowing its name in English. Outraged, Zanoni has asked regional authorities what penalties might be enacted, including whether the wildlife shooting company's license could be suspended for violating these laws.The Guardian reported that the environment ministry is awaiting further details regarding the allegations.

Luana Zanella, a member of the national parliament from the Green Party, also supports the call for investigation, reiterating the importance of enforcing environmental protection laws. The president of the Italian Hunting Federation, Massimo Buconi, confirmed that hunting is permissible in Italy but strictly regulated; should the Ruddy Shelduck be verified as such, it would clearly breach local wildlife laws.

Despite the significant allegations, neither Trump Jr. nor the behind-the-scenes team at Field Ethos has provided immediate comments regarding the situation. The controversy has reignited discussions about foreign nationals' hunting rights in Italy and the responsibilities of those engaged in such activities on protected lands.

For further details, visit the USA Today or check out The Independent for additional context.