On 28 May 2026, at 13:00, the press conference “Wolves, bears and poisons – Data, critical issues and tools to tackle the illegal mortality of the Apennine wolf and the Marsican brown bear” will be held at the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies in Rome.
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The initiative is the result of a collaboration between Rewilding Apennines ETS, Io non ho paura del lupo APS and Salviamo l’Orso ODV, three organisations that have been working in the field for years in the most sensitive contexts of coexistence between human activities and large carnivores.
In recent months, the issue has returned dramatically to the centre of public attention following numerous episodes of poisoning and illegal killing of wildlife, involving wolves, bears and many other species. These episodes 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, direct experience and concrete proposals, connecting the ecological, legal and social aspects linked to the illegal mortality of large carnivores and to the conservation of two of the most iconic species of Italian ecosystems.
The meeting will open with introductory remarks from MP Eleonora Evi, who strongly championed the organisation of this press conference, and from Senator Michele Fina.
Francesco Romito of Io non ho paura del Lupo will then present “Wolf mortality in Italy”, the first national analysis built on institutional data. A study that provides, for the first time, an organic and documented picture of the causes of wolf mortality in our country and of the impact of human activities on the species.
Valeria Barbi of Salviamo l’Orso will then turn to the Marsican brown bear and illegal poisonings, analysing their ecological implications and the critical issues in the governance of coexistence, between institutional and collective responsibilities. A particularly relevant focus for a subspecies that is unique in the world and still extremely vulnerable today.
Daniela Gentile of Rewilding Apennines will close the meeting with a talk dedicated to the issue of poison and impunity. At the heart of the discussion is the need to strengthen regulatory tools against those who use poisoned baits and illegal practices, introducing mechanisms capable of effectively targeting also the profits derived from such actions, modelled on legislation already in place for forest fires.
The meeting aims to contribute to opening up a discussion grounded in verifiable data, direct experience and knowledge of the territory, at a time when public debate on large carnivores appears increasingly polarised and often distant from the real complexity of the issue.
The press conference will be streamed live on webtv.camera.it.
