The Io non ho paura del lupo APS association, committed to promoting the coexistence of wolves and human activities, today released a rare and exceptional video documenting the predation of a male roe deer by two wolves, which occurred in the northern Apennines.
These are very rare images, difficult to observe and even more difficult to document, which offer a direct glimpse into a natural process fundamental to the functioning of ecosystems.
The video, by its very nature, may be shocking and is not suitable for particularly sensitive audiences. However, it is precisely through transparent communication—not sugarcoated, but contextualized—that it is possible to build a deeper and more informed understanding of the role of large carnivores.
Predation is one of the central mechanisms through which natural ecosystems function. The wolf, as an apex predator, plays a role in regulating the populations of wild ungulates such as roe deer, helping to maintain densities compatible with available resources. This does not simply translate into a "reduction in numbers": its effect on population structure is far more complex. Through natural selection, the process contributes over time to the overall robustness of the preyed species.
But ecological dynamics don't end with the act of predation. As this exceptional documentation demonstrates, the roe deer carcass is a key node in the transfer of energy within the ecosystem. After predation, numerous species benefit: small opportunistic carnivores such as foxes and mustelids, other ungulates such as wild boars, scavengers such as crows and birds of prey, and a large community of decomposing insects. Added to these are bacteria and fungi that complete the decomposition cycle, transforming biomass into nutrients available for the soil and thus contributing to the fertility and productivity of the environment.
It is an essential, often invisible, process that directly links the death of an individual to the overall functioning of the ecosystem. In this sense, predation is not an isolated event, but part of a complex network of ecological relationships. These dynamics—however difficult they may be to observe—are the basis of biodiversity and the stability of natural environments. Describing them means moving beyond a simplified and anthropocentric view of nature and restoring its true complexity.
"Showing images like these is important," says Daniele Ecotti, president of Io non ho paura del lupo APS. "We often interpret what happens in nature through cultural, emotional, and moral filters that pertain to our own perspective, not to the functioning of ecosystems. This is why we chose to make them public: to contribute to a more complete, honest, and concrete representation of nature, one that doesn't limit itself to the most reassuring or pleasant aspects."
The wolf is neither good nor bad: it is not a symbol to be idealized nor a problem to be demonized, but a predator that plays a specific and important ecological role. Understanding and accepting these processes is a fundamental step towards developing a more balanced and informed view of nature and, from this, towards building more mature and balanced forms of coexistence between human activities and wildlife.
By disseminating content like this, the association aims to promote clear, rigorous, and evidence-based communication, capable of fueling a more informed and less polarized public debate.