In recent days, following several incidents of predation or attempted predation on domestic dogs, public debate has reignited regarding the presence of wolves in the Upper Taro Valley. This issue, as often happens, risks being addressed emotionally and piecemeal, rather than with the necessary technical expertise and knowledge of the phenomenon.
The announcement of a meeting promoted by the mayor of Tornolo for October 20th and the letter sent by the mayor of Bedonia to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security demonstrate the local community's concern and understandable concerns, but also the need to bring the discussion back to a scientific basis rather than an alarmist tone.
The Tornolo meeting, as presented, will involve only political representatives, with no presence of subject matter experts, technicians, or Emilia-Romagna Region staff. These figures are essential for a balanced and constructive discussion, but above all, to offer the public the expertise of professionals rather than political propaganda.
The letter to the Ministry from the Mayor of Bedonia describes a situation of widespread alarm, livestock predation, and alleged damage to local tourism. These claims deserve to be supported by objective data rather than proclamations. As an association that has been working in the Apennines for years to promote the coexistence of humans and wildlife, we believe it is essential to address this issue with clarity and responsibility. The wolf has been a stable presence in our territory for decades: its expansion, documented since the 80s, is the result of the natural return of a species that had risked extinction. Therefore, this is not an emergency, but rather a structural element of our mountain environment.
Perhaps it's time to recognize that the most authentic and precious thing we have left is our landscape and environment, and to commit to truly enhancing the natural beauty of the Apennines, in the many forms it can take. Wildlife, and the wolf in particular, represents one such opportunity. In various contexts, including the Taro Valley, their presence has proven to be a resource for tourism and the promotion of the region: an increasing number of visitors and schools are participating in environmental education activities, excursions, and citizen science projects, helping to raise awareness of biodiversity and providing tangible support to the local economy.
It's true that conflicts with livestock can arise, but experience shows that most predation occurs when pets are not adequately cared for. Even the recent cases cited by Mayor Serpagli seem to be attributable to situations lacking effective protection systems. Today, accessible and proven tools exist: in Emilia-Romagna, there are active calls for proposals and regional grants for the purchase and installation of various defense systems, and our Association also offers, through the Coexistence Fund , prevention materials (electricity generators, nets, fences, dog food), giving priority to small farmers and hobbyists who wish to improve the protection of their animals.
For this reason, it's important to distinguish between the normal presence of wolves and exceptional cases that require specific interventions, such as the recent incidents in the upper Taro Valley in recent days, which saw a wolf attack dogs despite the close presence of people. This is atypical behavior, not typical of the species, and must be addressed as such: competently by the appropriate authorities.
As an Association, we immediately reported the incidents to the relevant authorities and believe there are grounds for targeted interventions, including culling, against the individual(s) responsible. We believe it is right and necessary for institutions to intervene to manage this situation, but it is equally important not to generalize: the vast majority of wolves remain elusive and continue to avoid humans. Therefore, we need knowledge, collaboration, and trust in the work of experts, to avoid turning an isolated case into an emergency that affects all wolves and that does not reflect the reality.