Nine wolves died in the Apennines, the appeal to stop the massacre

The number of animals killed with poisoned baits in the area of ​​Cocullo, near L’Aquila, is still growing. I am indeed nine wolves and five griffins, which probably ate the carcasses of predators, who died of poisoning in the neighboring areas of the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise. An immense loss of biodiversity that the investigations in progress, carried out by the forest carabinieri, by the Park Surveillance Service with the anti-poison dog units and by the experts of Rewilding Appennines, attribute to a clear will to kill large carnivores.

“They have slaughtered a whole herd – indeed he says Angela Tavone by Rewilding Appenines – with ad hoc baits. The date of death of the wolves is in fact the same, the griffins and crows then ate the carcasses, poisoning themselves in turn. The new findings of dead animals are due to ongoing investigations to look for any other baits and understand who is behind these crimes. The staff and volunteers of Rewilding Apennines and Salviamo l’Orso, together with the Carabinieri Forestali and the Pnalm Surveillance Service are constantly engaged in monitoring and control activities to stem the massacre”.

The suspicion that what is happening in the Cocullo area outside protected areas, but in theimportant ecological corridor that unites the National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise and the Sirente Velino Regional Natural Park, whether it is a deliberate act against the wolves or the Marsican bears that frequent the area, in the umpteenth escalation of the conflict between wild species and man, is now almost a certainty. In the area it is not the first time that someone spreads poisoned baits, putting at risk not only the lives of animals, but also that of people and pets: in recent years in the same area and in the same period similar episodes have occurred, which in one case also killed two golden eagles by poisoning.

According to Rewilding Apennines and other environmental associations (Salviamo l’Orso, Io Non Ho Paura Del Lupo, Abruzzo Ornithological Station, History of Fauna, LIPU, Altura, Orso & Friends, Apennine ecosystem, National Animal Protection Body, FederTrek, Paliurus, Mountain Wilderness , Otherwise, Ambiente e/è Vita, Dalla parte dell’Orso, WWF Abruzzo, Pro Natura Abruzzo, CONALPA, CAI Abruzzo, Ecotur, Intramontes and Wildlife Adventures) the seriousness of the situation requires an increase in surveillance activities. “This is why we wrote a letter to the national, regional and local authorities competent in environmental matters and judicial police – says Tavone – to forcefully ask for incisive actions to prevent the phenomenon of poisoning and to strengthen intervention and investigation proceduresto reduce as much as possible this very serious risk to biodiversity and human communities”.

The associations urgently request a meeting, a sort of extraordinary summit, because the emergency is extraordinary. “The spreading of poisoned baits or carcasses with poison on the territory is a criminal practice that must be fought and condemned and which represents a threat to the safety, not only of wildlife, but also of humans and pets. The impact of these illegal activities is enormous and often difficult to verify in its entirety, reflecting on all the animals that from time to time feed on these sources” still observe from Rewilding Appennines.

“We appeal to every single citizen – is the conclusion of the letter – so that they are aware that these crimes are unfortunately still present and can become the spokesperson for a different culture, made up of knowledge and respect for nature, attachment to place and coexistence with wildlife”.