Park authorities reported eight wolves found dead in recent days, adding to ten carcasses from last week. Three dead foxes and a buzzard were also discovered. A criminal investigation began last week after suspected poisoned bait was found near five dead wolves in the Alfedena area. Tests are being conducted to determine the cause of death, but the simultaneous deaths of other species point to deliberate poisoning, park authorities said. The marsican bear, a critically endangered subspecies, is present in the park, making the situation especially worrying.
The Italian unit of WWF called the suspected killings the most serious crimes against wildlife in Italy in a decade. WWF Italy partly blames the deaths on the EU downgrading the wolf's status from 'strictly protected' to 'protected' last year. There are an estimated 20,000 wild wolves across EU countries, with the majority in Italy. According to The Guardian - World, prosecutor Luciano D'Angelo described the killings as serious, noting that initial investigations indicate poison was used, though the specific substance is not yet known.
We’ve reached 18 [wolves] illegally killed within just a few days. This continued massacre strikes at the heart of our natural heritage. Spreading poison to target an iconic species like the wolf is a cowardly and criminal act against biodiversity and an attack on public safety – it’s 2026 and these acts cannot go unpunished.
Park authorities expressed despair and disbelief, stating that illegality and crime cannot be justified regardless of motivation. WWF Italy condemned the massacre as an attack on biodiversity and public safety, urging that such acts must not go unpunished.