A broad area was searched with the help of anti-poisoning dogs. Now the investigators are examining the results.
Massive control operations were carried out by the State Forestry Corps – Provincial Bureau of Isernia – after the recent poisonings that have been reported in the high Volturno Valley, in the province of Isernia. Also some wolves were killed by poisoned baits.
The Dog Anti-poisoning Team intervened by patrolling the municipal areas of Montenero Valcocchiara, Pizzone, Castel San Vincenzo and Rocchetta al Volturno. Five trained dogs were used to search poisoned baits and toxic substances in the scope of the “LIFE Antidote Project” by the National Park of Gran Sasso and Laga Mountains.
The areas under control are especially those next to villages and farms, but also urban and suburban ones. The results are now under the minute analysis and examination of professionals. It seems that, during the surveys, it was possible to perform controls over other issues concerning the protection of environment. But detectives say nothing more.
Operations were coordinated by the Inspection Department of Forestry and Environmental Police (NIPAF in Italian) of the Forestry Corps of Isernia with the participation of the Bureaus of Colli a Volturno, Forlì del Sannio and Pizzone. Also a squad of rangers from the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise in the Mainarde district and the Veterinary Doctors of ASREM (Doc. B. Pacitti and Doc. A. Liberatore) participated to the operations.
Poisoned baits are a real plague with a devastating potential effect especially on protected species such as the Marsican brown bear, endangered of extinction. For that reason, the Forestry Corps is implementing a series of targeted measures.
Mr. Luciano Sammarone, Chief of the Isernia Province Forestry Corps, says “the presence of the dog units is an essential instrument to support the fight against illegal and criminal activities”. The Forestry Corps say that also the dog drivers were qualified after a training course by the “Life Antidote Project” in a Spanish school. So it was possible to import in Italy an instrument that, in the opinion of Mr. Sammarone “is crucial for the conservation of our extremely valuable protected wildlife and should be obviously improved with proper measures”.
The Forestry Corps highlight also the importance of involvement and coordination initiatives among different authorities, such as the Forestry Corps, the ASREM and the very important cooperation with the rangers of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise.
Now new controls are to be carried out by NIPAF to investigate on the recent cases of wolves killed in the municipalities of Castel San Vincenzo and Rocchetta al Volturno.