In recent decades, after centuries of persecution by man, in Italy - and in general in much of Europe - the wolf has returned to re-occupy territories where it was once present. Thanks to legislative protection measures, the population of this important predator has managed to grow again, repopulating many areas of our country and also reconquering territories from which it had disappeared for a long time. However, the return of a species so important for ecosystems and at the same time so complex, poses new challenges, especially in highly anthropized contexts.
The wolf, like many other wild and domestic animals, is a potentially dangerous animal for humans, but it is generally a shy species that tends to avoid contact with humans. However, the wolf stands out both for its extraordinary ability to adapt to living in anthropized environments, and for its strong individual character that can be significantly influenced by human behavior. For this reason, it is important to underline that, although direct attacks on humans are, nowadays, extremely rare events, they cannot be completely excluded.
Several studies have analyzed these attacks and the conditions in which they occurred, defining the risk of being attacked by a wolf as “above zero, but too low to be calculated”. In the most famous of these studies “Are wolves dangerous to humans?"(Linnell, J.D.C., et al. 2021) researchers detected 26 fatal attacks worldwide between 2002 and 2020. Of these, 14 were due to rabies, a zoonosis no longer present in Italy. Furthermore, most of the fatal attacks occurred in social and economic contexts profoundly different from the European context, such as in Turkey, India and Kazakhstan.
In an even more recent study entitled “A worldwide perspective on large carnivore attacks on humans"(Bombieri G., Penteriani V., et al. 2023) 25 wolf attacks on people that occurred in Europe and North America over a 40-year period (1980 – 2019) are analyzed. In 18 cases, these were attacks classified as “unprovoked”, that is, not caused by the victim’s behavior or direct action. However, it is important to underline that in 15 of these attacks it was possible to ascertain that the specimens involved were in some way accustomed to feeding on food sources made available voluntarily or involuntarily by humans. These attacks are therefore to be classified as rare episodes that, however, can fuel fears and prejudices towards a species that, in most cases, coexists peacefully with humans. To make a simple comparison of the dangerousness with other animals, just think that in Italy alone, between 2015 and 2022, 5 people were killed by wild boars, and yet to date there is no “wild boar emergency” with respect to human safety. When the protagonist is the wolf – as in the recent case in Rome, where a specimen injured a four-year-old child – these attacks raise crucial questions, generate fear, confusion and exploitation by extremists who oppose large carnivores: for this reason we believe it is necessary and proper to address them, trying to delve deeper into the issue, analyzing causes, consequences and solutions for a safer and more sustainable coexistence.
The attack: environmental context and dynamics
The recent attack occurred in the outskirts of Rome, one of the many areas occasionally frequented by wild boars that, through small wooded areas connected to the countryside, can reach these neighborhoods in search of waste that has not been disposed of correctly. Wild boars, in turn, attract predators such as wolves, which can follow them to the edges of cities or even into residential areas. In the days before the attack, some residents of the neighborhood had reported the presence of a canine very similar to a wolf near a soccer field. The animal had been seen wandering just outside the fence, showing anomalous behavior: it approached the fence and ran back and forth, following the players and the ball without showing any fear towards people. (video / WhatsApp)
The investigation: the capture and the analysis of the animal
Immediately after the episode, posted on social media in neighborhood groups, Marco Antonelli, Head of large carnivores for WWF Italy, contacted the child's mother to ascertain what had happened and promptly alerted and informed ISPRA - Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale and the Environment Directorate of the Lazio Region. After two weeks, thanks to further reports and the joint work of the task force organized by the Lazio Region with Regional Park Rangers, technicians and veterinarians from the ASL, the animal was identified and captured through telenarcosis, and then transferred to a specialized wildlife center. Genetic analysis revealed the animal's identity: a genetically "pure" wolf, a female of about a year and a half old never observed together with other wolves. Even once in captivity, the animal continued to show indifference towards the presence of man.
This behavior, anomalous and rare in a wild wolf, has therefore led experts to wonder about the possible causes. There may be various hypotheses on the “anomalous” behavior of this specimen. One possibility is that it is a young individual in dispersal, a natural process during which young people leave their original pack to look for their own territory and a partner with whom to form a new pack. During this phase, the animal may have been influenced by the presence of food sources made available, even involuntarily, by humans. Another hypothesis is that the animal was captured as a cub in the wild, kept in captivity by private individuals and subsequently released to get rid of it, as has already happened in the past with other specimens that were later found to be “confident”.
It should be emphasized, however, that in addition to the experiences of direct or indirect conditioning by man, the personality of each individual can also contribute to the development of behaviors that, from our point of view, may appear anomalous. The attack on Rome and other similar episodes (such as those of the "wolf of Otranto” or of the “she-wolf of the Piave”) highlight a common pattern: the presence of wildlife that the wolf can feed on and the simultaneous availability of food sources near inhabited areas, both key factors in the development of confident and, at times, dangerous behaviors.
When wolves find easily accessible food near populated areas, they may begin to perceive humans as a neutral presence or even as a source of resources. This phenomenon is further exacerbated by the unfortunately widespread habit of intentionally feeding wild animals, a behavior that contributes to breaking down natural barriers between humans and wild animals.
How to prevent these episodes?
Although the risk of wolf attacks is very low, it can be further reduced by adopting targeted strategies. As evidenced by existing data, the risk of dangerous behaviors for humans can increase in particular contexts such as that of confident wolves in particularly anthropized areas. For these reasons, the priority should be to eliminate food sources within or near inhabited centers. This includes both improving the management of urban waste, avoiding overflowing bins or illegal landfills, and intervening on the disposal practices of stables that, despite regulatory provisions, often dispose of waste or dead animals in manure heaps or near farms to avoid the costs necessary for correct disposal.
In general, the goal should be to raise awareness among the population on the importance of not leaving food or waste out in the open where it can become accessible to wild animals of any kind, much less feeding them voluntarily. Furthermore, the relevant bodies should promote widespread communication campaigns to spread good practices of coexistence with wildlife and educate citizens on the correct behavior in the event of sightings. The goal should be both to avoid behaviors that may encourage the approach of animals and expose people to risks, and to instill knowledge and awareness in citizens to avoid alarmism and unfounded fears. Likewise, it is necessary for the institutions to inform the population about all the possible risk situations and the management initiatives underway to resolve these problems.
In conclusion, the case of Rome reminds us that the return of a predator like the wolf brings new responsibilities. Cases of aggression by wolves to people are extremely exceptional cases since these predators, as a rule, avoid contact with humans, but given the growing expansion of the wolf even in highly anthropized environments, we can expect an increase in negative interactions with these animals. For this reason, it is even more urgent to work on prevention, also and above all by raising awareness among people on the issue.
In cases of wolves that display aggressive or confident attitudes, it is crucial that the authorities are prepared to act with the timeliness and transparency necessary to guarantee safety and to avoid instrumentalization and alarmism. When the risk to people is immediate and concrete, we also believe that controlled culling, when technically feasible, may be a necessary and preferable measure compared to capture with lifelong detention, which could take longer and involve additional dangers. This approach must be considered as a measure of last resort to prevent further incidents, protecting collective safety while respecting the complex dynamics of coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Another consideration concerns the growth of awareness regarding the dangerousness of fauna: once again it must be reiterated that "zero risk" does not exist in any case, both when we relate to animals of any type, and for example when we frequent natural areas, often full of dangers for our safety. What must finally be reiterated once again is how this risk threshold can be particularly reduced through our behavior: through adequate management of food resources, transparent communications from the institutions and widespread environmental education among the new and old generations, we can reduce dangerous interactions to a minimum, guaranteeing both human safety and the conservation of the species and the balance of ecosystems. Coexistence with the wolf is a challenge that concerns everyone: public bodies, the scientific community and citizens. Only by talking together can we create a lasting balance between man and nature, protecting our wildlife heritage and the people who live alongside it.
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Opening photo by Stefano Manfredini
Special thanks to Marco Antonelli and Chiara Alessandrini.
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To organize/request a “Get to Know the Wolf” event visit this page.
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To learn more about the wild boar killings cited in this article:
Elderly man killed by wild boar in Cefalù, city mourning declared
Pesaro, enraged wild boar bites a man and kills him
Alessandria, hunter killed by wild boar he shot
Hunter killed by wild boar in Grosseto area