Wolves, bears, and poison: a press conference at the Chamber of Deputies on the illegal killing of large carnivores in Italy.

On May 28, 2026, at 13:00 PM, the press conference "Wolves, bears, and poisons – Data, critical issues, and tools to combat the illegal mortality of the Apennine wolf and the Marsican brown bear" will be held in the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies in Rome.

The initiative is a collaboration between Rewilding Apennines, Io non ho paura del lupo APS, and Salviamo l'Orso ODV, three organizations that have been working in the field for years in the most delicate contexts of human activity and large carnivores.

In recent months, the issue has dramatically returned to the forefront of public attention following numerous incidents of poisoning and illegal killing of wildlife, involving wolves, bears, and many other species. These incidents highlight not only the persistence of extremely dangerous illegal practices, but also the urgent need to address the problem through more effective regulatory, cultural, and operational tools. The press conference will be an opportunity to present data, firsthand experiences, and concrete proposals, linking the ecological, legal, and social aspects of the illegal killing of large carnivores and the conservation of two of the most iconic species in Italian ecosystems.

The meeting will open with introductory remarks from the Honorable Eleonora Evi, who strongly supported the organization of this press conference, and Senator Michele Fina.

Following this, Francesco Romito will present "Wolf Mortality in Italy," the first national analysis based on institutional data. This work provides, for the first time, a comprehensive and documented picture of the causes of wolf mortality in our country and the impact of human activities on the species.

Valeria Barbi will explore the Marsican brown bear and illegal poisoning, analyzing its ecological implications and the critical issues in the governance of coexistence, including institutional and collective responsibilities. This focus is particularly relevant for a unique subspecies that remains extremely vulnerable today.

Daniela Gentile will conclude with a presentation on the topic of poison and impunity. The focus of the discussion will be the need to strengthen regulatory mechanisms against those who use poisoned bait and illegal practices, introducing mechanisms that can effectively target the profits derived from such activities, modeled on existing regulations regarding forest fires.

The meeting aims to spark a debate based on verifiable data, firsthand experience, and local knowledge, at a time when the public debate on large carnivores appears increasingly polarized and often disconnected from the true complexity of the phenomenon.

The press conference will be streamed live on webtv.camera.it.