Italy Officials Launch Probe After 18 Wolves Found Dead in Suspected Poisoning
Eighteen wolves have been found dead in a protected Italian national park, and authorities say the scale of the incident is raising immediate concerns about wildlife safety.
The deaths are being treated as a potential mass poisoning, with conservation groups warning it could be one of the most serious wildlife crimes the country has seen in years.
According to Reuters, the carcasses were discovered across multiple areas within Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, a central Italian region known as a stronghold for wolves. Officials say poisoned bait is the leading theory, especially after other animals were also found dead nearby.
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But investigators have not yet confirmed the exact substance used, leaving open questions about how widespread the threat could be and whether more animals were exposed.
“The scale of what is happening is devastating,” park authorities said in a statement.
The incident is drawing national attention because Italy’s wolf population had only recently recovered after being driven close to extinction in the 20th century, with protections introduced in the 1970s reversing decades of decline.
That recovery has also brought new tensions, as farmers in some regions report livestock losses and policymakers across Europe debate loosening protections on wolves.
Authorities have launched a criminal investigation and increased inspections, but officials have not identified suspects or a clear motive.
For now, the focus remains on determining how the poisoning happened and whether further damage to wildlife can be prevented.
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