The phenomenon of malicious poisoning of animals “is unfortunately constantly increasing and affects both domestic and wild species, thus placing those at risk of extinction in serious danger, including the Marsican brown bear, a stable presence in the Lazio region, in particular way in the Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park”. In this context, the Lazio Region deemed it necessary to promote the implementation in the territory of a coordinated presence of the competent institutions in matters of surveillance and combating the use of poisonous substances, for the activation of suitable initiatives for the prevention of the poisoning phenomenon which , being lethal for many species, causes dramatic ecosystem imbalances.
Thus was born the joint anti-poison group, made up of representatives of the Lazio Forestry Carabinieri Region Command, the Lazio Region and the Abruzzo Lazio and Molise National Park, with the aim of preventing in-depth knowledge of the phenomenon and promoting the coordination of forces in the field, also made up of the Anti-Poison Dog Units, qualified and an indispensable tool for the search for carcasses and poisoned bait, for the reclamation of the territory and the identification of sources of evidence useful for carrying out investigations and identifying the culprits.
Poisoning an animal is in fact considered a crime, pursuant to art. 544-bis and 544-ter of the penal code, respectively killing and mistreatment of animals, crimes for which the penalty is imprisonment. The initiative implemented falls within the scope of the Convention in force between Masaf and the Lazio Region for the use of the Forestry Carabinieri in specific sectors of regional competence, as well as among the primary synergistic actions envisaged by the Agreement between Public Administrations for the implementation of the Action Plan for the protection of the Marsican brown bear.
It should also be remembered that two years ago the Ministry of Health launched the free app for real-time reporting of poisoned bites or bait. Here’s how to download it.
