August 17th 2024.
For many years, the bustling city of Rome has been struggling with a pressing issue – waste management. Despite its allure and popularity as a tourist destination, the Italian capital is now facing a new problem that is not often found on the list of reasons why someone would book a ticket to this historical city. Along with its rich history, stunning architecture, and delicious pizza, Rome is now also home to a growing population of rats, snakes, and seagulls, according to top zoologist Andrea Lunerti.
In an interview with The Guardian, Lunerti revealed that he has been inundated with reports of snake sightings this summer, thanks to the unusually warm winter that allowed them to thrive. As a result, these slithery creatures have been making their way into the city from their natural habitats in search of food, with rats being their main prey. The increase in snake sightings has also been accompanied by some bizarre incidents, such as a snake being captured by a seagull and dropped onto a terrace, and another winding up in a doctor's changing room.
Lunerti described Rome as a "proper jungle" due to the influx of these wild animals. In addition to snakes, the city is also facing a rise in seagull populations, which Lunerti believes may help to control the rat population, at least to some extent. However, the increase in seagulls also brings with it other issues, such as Oriental hornets, which are considered vermin.
The root cause of this sudden influx of wild animals is the abundance of rubbish in the city. Rome produces a staggering 4,600 tons of waste every day, according to AMA, the city's rubbish authority. This issue has been exacerbated by the closure of the Malagrotta landfill in 2013, which was deemed unfit to treat waste by European authorities. As a result, the city has been struggling to find a solution to its rubbish crisis.
Lunerti emphasized that the rubbish problem is directly linked to the increase in rat populations, and he has been urging people to send him photographs or videos of snakes to help identify and handle them appropriately. He also pointed out that the number of wild boars in the city has risen to over 25,000, as they too search for food in the streets of Rome.
Despite these alarming issues, city officials have denied that Rome is turning into a "jungle." They claim that there is no connection between the increase in wild animals and the rubbish problem, and that refuse collection standards have actually improved this year. However, locals and business owners disagree, stating that the stench of piling rubbish and overflowing bins in the summer heat can become overwhelming, and that customers are now refusing to dine outside.
Lunerti believes that Rome needs to take immediate action to address its waste management issues, or else the city will continue to see a rise in snakes, hornets, rats, and seagulls. He warned that the seagull population in Rome has already surpassed that of a nearby seaside town. As the city's council insists that Rome is "no jungle," Lunerti and other experts continue to call for a solution to this pressing issue.
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