In what can only be described as a deeply unorthodox approach to wildlife management, someone appears to have taken it upon themselves to thin the wolf population of Italy’s Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park. Over the course of a few days, 18 wolves have turned up dead, and park authorities are raising a “very strong suspicion” that poisoned bait is the culprit.

The grim tally began with 10 carcasses found last week, followed by another eight after patrols were stepped up. The park authority, working with local prosecutors, sent 13 of the deceased wolves to the local animal health research institute IZS in Teramo, which confirmed the presence of “pesticides for agriculture used in poisoned bait for animals.” So, not a natural cause - more like a homemade extermination plot.

Environment Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin called the killings “horrendous and serious,” noting that wolf protection is “crucial to the balance of our ecosystem.” Italy’s Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (Ispra) warned that the poisonings threaten significant advances in animal conservation and pose risks to other protected species, domestic pets, and public safety.

The deaths come amid a European wolf renaissance: the EU reports a 35% increase in wolf numbers to 23,000 from 2016 to 2023, concentrated in Central Europe and Alpine regions. Italy alone boasts about 3,300 wolves, according to a 2020-21 Ispra census. But with more wolves comes more livestock attacks - 65,500 per year, per EU data - prompting the EU to downgrade the wolf’s “strictly protected” status to merely “protected.” This change allows Italy to cull 160 wolves annually starting in 2026, though wildlife groups are now pleading for a rethink in light of the poisonings.

Stefano Ciafani, head of environmental group Legambiente, described the 18 deaths as an “unprecedented attack on protected wildlife” and an example of “do-it-yourself justice.” He warned that other species could be next, including the critically endangered Marsican brown bear - a symbol of the park, with only about 50 individuals remaining. Apparently, someone decided that if the government won’t cull them fast enough, they’ll take matters into their own hands. Classy.