Suspected Poisoning Claims Lives of 18 Wolves in Italian National Park

Fri Apr 24 2026 13:47:40 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

The Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park faces a devastating incident with the deaths of 18 wolves, raising concerns over wildlife protection and ecosystem balance.

A recent wave of suspected poisoning has led to the deaths of 18 wolves in a national park in Italy, prompting serious environmental concerns. Initial investigations revealed traces of poisoned bait and confirmed the use of agricultural pesticides. The incidents have sparked public outrage and a call for renewed efforts in wildlife protection.

Poisoning is suspected in the deaths of 18 wolves within a few days in a national park that straddles three regions of central Italy.

After the carcasses of 10 wolves were found last week, another eight were discovered when patrols were stepped up in the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park.

The park authority revealed last week that traces of suspected poisoned bait had been located in an area where several wolves were found dead, increasing the concern over further poisoning.

The authority is collaborating with local public prosecutors to ascertain the cause of death.

Testing carried out by the local animal health research institute IZS corroborated initial suspicions of poisoning, with analyses showing the presence of pesticides for agriculture used in poisoned bait for animals among the deceased wolves.

Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin condemned the killings, labeling them horrendous and serious and emphasized the necessity of wolf protection for maintaining ecosystem balance.

Italy's Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra) expressed alarm at the implications of wolf poisonings on ongoing conservation efforts, noting that it presents risks to other protected species, domestic animals, and public safety.

The wolf population in the European Union has surged by 35% between 2016 and 2023, with Italy's wolf population, as per a census from 2020-21, estimated at around 3,300.

Despite their protected status, recent fatalities due to poisoning put into question significant strides made in wildlife protection. Acknowledging the complexity of human-wildlife interactions, it was noted that wolves may face heightened danger, with populations reportedly attacking livestock, leading to calls for culling permissions amidst the tensions surrounding their conservation.

Stefano Ciafani, head of environmental group Legambiente, condemned the deaths as an unprecedented attack on protected wildlife, warning that other endangered species, like the critically endangered Marsican brown bear, could also be at risk.