Poisoning suspected in deaths of 18 wolves in Italian national park

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 found when patrols were stepped up in recent days in the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park. The park authority said last week that trac...

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 found 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 said it was working to determine the cause of death and collaborating with local public prosecutors.