Italian authorities have launched an investigation after at least 18 wolves and several other wild animals were found dead in and around Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. Officials suspect the animals were killed using poisoned bait, marking one of the most severe attacks on protected wildlife in the country. The discovery has raised alarm not only for biodiversity but also for potential risks to public safety.

Park authorities expressed shock and “deep grief,” while Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin condemned the incident as “horrendous” and ordered intensified inspections by forestry police. Conservationists warn that such actions threaten the fragile recovery of Italy’s wolf population, which has rebounded in recent decades after nearing extinction in the 20th century.

Environmental group Legambiente reported that other animals, including foxes and a buzzard, were also found dead, pointing to a wider poisoning event. Prosecutors in Sulmona have opened a formal investigation, as authorities urge locals to report suspicious activity. The incident has reignited debate over wildlife protection and tensions between conservation efforts and rural farming communities.

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