Poisoning is suspected in the deaths of 18 wolves within a few days in a national park that straddles three regions of central Italy.
After the carcasses of 10 wolves were found last week, another eight were discovered when patrols were stepped up in recent days in the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park.
The park authority said last week that traces of suspected poisoned bait had been found in an area where five of the wolves had been found dead and the latest deaths elsewhere raised very strong suspicion of further poisoning.
The authority is working to determine the cause of death and is collaborating with local public prosecutors.
Thirteen of the dead wolves were taken to the institute in Teramo, which found the presence of pesticides for agriculture used in poisoned bait for animals.
Italy's Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin condemned the killings as horrendous and serious, emphasizing the importance of wolves to ecosystem balance.
Warnings have been issued about the impact of poisoned bait not only on wolves but on other protected species and domestic animals.
The wolf population in Italy, estimated at about 3,300 according to a 2020-01 census, has seen significant growth, raising concerns about livestock attacks and leading to discussions on culling policies.
Legambiente, an environmental group, described the slaughter as an unprecedented attack on protected wildlife, expressing fears for other species, including the critically endangered Marsican brown bear.
The situation underscores the ongoing conflict between wildlife conservation and agricultural interests in rural Italy.
