Wolves cause a stir in Italy
Call for action as Italian wolf depredations rise
Alessandro Scala, an official of the Colditetti Imola region, has called for urgent action in the light of increasing wolf attacks.
The problem has reportedly become notably worse in the last ten days, with herds of sheep and goats attacked in the Circondario mountains. Complaints from farmers include compensation not being paid for years after the attacks and when it does arrive it doesn't even cover half the value of their livestock. An added complication is that compensation depends on the carcass of attacked animals being sent away, yet most wolf attacks rarely leave a carcass behind.
Claudio Governi, regional environment officer for Bologna, is worried that the wolves will move further down the mountainside and that they will then start to attack cattle. He's called on the government for "decisive and concerted action" to help solve the perceived problem.
In response, the environmental department of the Party of Italian Communists* has issued a press release, calling for the end of such "absurd and senseless xenophobia towards wolves". The party wants the government's action to be along the lines of providing greater security for farmers in order to deter wolves. "We secure our buildings with fences and alarms", says the release, "so why should we not do the same with farms?" Some areas, such as Abruzzi, are already using livestock guardian dogs and the Communists would like to see such measures used in Bologna.
Sources:
Emilianet, local news site
http://www.emilianet.it/Sezione.jsp?idSezione=15933&idSezioneRif=10
Maremma News, Communist press release
http://www.maremmanews.tv/it1012/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3572&Itemid=1
* - the Italian Communists are part of the coalition government of Italy.
Article created on: 03 Dec 2007