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The recent poisoning incidents that struck the Central Apennines between April and May, causing the death of at least 21 wolves and other wild animals both inside and outside the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, were the focus of a meeting held today in the Press Room of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. The event was organized at the initiative of Member of Parliament Eleonora Evi, with the support of the associations Io non ho paura del Lupo, Salviamo L\u2019Orso and Rewilding Apennines.<\/p>\n
Dedicated to the issue of poisoned baits and their environmental, health and social consequences, the initiative brought together associations, researchers, journalists and institutional representatives with the aim of highlighting the growing severity of the phenomenon and calling for stronger action against crimes targeting wildlife.<\/p>\n
During the event, Salviamo L\u2019Orso contributed to the discussion by reaffirming the need to address biodiversity conservation through a scientific, systemic and participatory approach.<\/p>\n
Currently, the Marsican brown bear population consists of only 50\u201360 individuals, mainly distributed within the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park and surrounding areas. This extremely fragile population is classified as critically endangered, and its survival depends on maintaining a delicate balance between conservation efforts and human presence.<\/p>\n
During our presentation, we emphasized that bear conservation cannot be addressed in isolation but requires an ecosystem-based, multispecies perspective. Within this framework, the Apennine wolf plays a fundamental ecological role.<\/p>\n
International scientific literature demonstrates that large carnivores contribute to ecosystem stability, help regulate ungulate populations and support forest habitat regeneration. Conversely, the systematic persecution of predators leads to significant ecological imbalances.<\/p>\n
To challenge the myth of the wolf as a \u201cbloodthirsty predator,\u201d we also referred to European data on livestock predation. According to studies funded by the European Commission, wolves kill approximately 65,500 sheep annually across the European Union, representing only 0.065% of the sheep population present in Europe.<\/p>\n
The use of poison is one of the most destructive and indiscriminate forms of wildlife persecution, capable of profoundly disrupting ecological balances and threatening emblematic species such as the Marsican brown bear, a shared global heritage of incalculable value.<\/p>\n
This is a widespread and deeply rooted phenomenon throughout Italy, often hidden from public view and rarely resulting in the identification of those responsible. According to data from the National Portal for Monitoring Intentional Poisonings, compiled by ISPRA, the Forestry Carabinieri and LIFE projects, 16,826 poisoned animals were recorded in Italy between 2009 and 2024. Victims included wolves, foxes, birds of prey, griffon vultures, eagles, livestock guardian dogs, as well as domestic dogs and cats.<\/p>\n
That means nearly three poisoned animals every day, every day, for fifteen years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we talk about poison, we are not talking only about wildlife conservation,\u201d said Daniela Gentile of Rewilding Apennines. \u201cWe are talking about legality. We are talking about an environmental crime whose scale, dynamics and spread make it a systemic phenomenon.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to Valeria Barbi, Communications Manager of Salviamo L\u2019Orso, \u201cthe international scientific community considers poison one of the most destructive and indiscriminate forms of wildlife persecution. Those who distribute poisoned baits do not target only a single animal. They are attacking a public asset, biodiversity, environmental health and even the health and safety of human communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWith regard to wolves, at least 1,639 individuals were found dead in Italy between 2019 and 2023, with a steadily increasing trend – from 210 cases recorded in 2019 to 449 in 2023,\u201d said Romito of Io non ho paura del Lupo. \u201cWe are talking about more than one wolf dying every day, and this is certainly an underestimate of the species\u2019 actual mortality.\u201d<\/p>\n
He further noted that \u201cmortality causes directly or indirectly attributable to human activities account for more than 70% of documented cases.\u201d<\/p>\n
This situation highlights serious inconsistencies in wolf management policies, particularly in light of recent legislative decisions to downgrade the species\u2019 protection status despite significant concerns expressed by part of the scientific community.<\/p>\n
Considerable attention was also devoted to public communication about wildlife and the growing politicization of human-predator conflicts.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe continue to witness a toxic narrative portraying large carnivores as a problem to be eliminated rather than a public good to be protected,\u201d Barbi stressed, criticizing a public discourse often dominated by alarmism and sensationalism.<\/p>\n
Between 1970 and 2024, at least 11 Marsican brown bears died from agricultural pesticides or rodenticides detected during post-mortem examinations.<\/p>\n
The most recent confirmed poisoning case dates back to 2007, when the carcasses of an adult male bear – Bernardo – an adult female and a subadult bear were discovered.<\/p>\n
When a Marsican bear dies, we lose far more than a single individual: we lose genetic diversity, reproductive potential and ecological resilience.<\/p>\n
One of the central themes of our contribution was the need to move beyond emergency-based approaches and invest concretely in prevention and coexistence.<\/p>\n
The tools already exist: electric fencing, properly managed livestock guardian dogs, night shelters, effective prevention systems and timely compensation for farmers.<\/p>\n
The problem is not the presence of wildlife, but the absence of a coherent and systemic strategy.<\/p>\n
This is why involving local communities directly in conservation processes is essential.<\/p>\n
According to our association, people living in rural and mountain areas must become active participants in coexistence efforts through training, practical support for good practices, environmental education and the development of local economies compatible with the presence of large carnivores.<\/p>\n
At the conclusion of the event, our association presented a series of specific requests to public institutions:<\/p>\n
1. Strengthen investigations and field enforcement activities, providing full operational support to the Forestry Carabinieri.<\/p>\n
2. Ensure strict enforcement of existing legislation and increase penalties for the illegal use of toxic substances.<\/p>\n
3. Secure stable funding for anti-poison canine units.<\/p>\n
4. Launch a national institutional campaign against the use of poison.<\/p>\n
5. Provide concrete support to municipalities and communities investing in coexistence with wildlife.<\/p>\n
6. Promote a regional citizens\u2019 legislative initiative addressing wildlife poisonings.<\/p>\n
All speakers also reiterated the need for strong institutional unity and policies grounded in scientific evidence, free from propaganda and ideological manipulation.<\/p>\n
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The recent poisoning incidents that struck the Central Apennines between April and May, causing the death of at least 21 wolves and other wild animals both inside and outside the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, were the focus of a meeting held today in the Press Room of the Italian Chamber of Deputies. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":20727,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press-releases"],"yoast_head":"\n