The third fatal shooting of a 20-year-old Italian man who was mistaken for a wild boar has provoked a political outcry from animal rights groups demanding an immediate ban on hunting.

Marco Tosti, himself a hunter, was killed by a companion early Saturday as they combed the mountains in search of their prey near Santa Rufina, about 40 miles north or Rome.

Italian media reports said Tosti, was shot when his 70-year-old friend heard a noise, mistook him for a wild boar and fired at him. Tosti was shot in the abdomen and later died in hospital.

It was the third hunting tragedy in Italy in the past month. A 56-year-old hunter died near Velletri south of Rome last week and an 18-year-old was killed in northern Italy at the end of September.

Michela Vittoria Brambilla, president of the Italian League for the Defence of Animals and the Environment, expressed “profound disappointment” at the indifference of local and national authorities and government ministers to what she called a string of hunting deaths and injuries.

“The terrible killing of innocent creatures is continuing with hunting,” Ms Brambilla said.

“And today a young life was cut short during a wild boar hunt. I am calling for the government and parliament to approve without delay my proposed law to abolish hunting.”