Angelo Sciapetti, Councilor for the Environment of Marche region, spoke during the press conference to present two initiatives on the monitoring of wolves in the regional territory. The emergency is now a fact and it was thought of deliver ten "photo traps" to the State Forestry Corps, useful for detecting animals, without forgetting the training course relating to damage caused by predators and which is aimed at the veterinarians of the Single Regional Health Authority (ASUR) and the operators of the Umbria-Marche Zooprophylactic Institute. The data illustrated by the councilor speak of 140-160 wolves sighted in the Marche mountains in the period between 2010 and 2012, with a distribution in 28 households.
The main sighting area is undoubtedly the Sibillini Mountains National Park, in which wolves were numerous even when they were at risk of extinction (in the seventies of the last century): in the last eight years 28 carcasses have been found in this park, with animals that have died due to investments in machines, from poisoning or after killing with weapons.
Knowing these animals is therefore considered essential by Sciapichetti and the solution of the photo traps could be decisive, with a better control network on the territory. According to Fabrizio Mari, regional deputy commander of the Forestry, the photo trapping allows you to carefully monitor the presence of wolves in the area, even outside the parks. The press conference also addressed issues relating to poaching, still widespread in the Marche region, and the establishment of the first anti-poison dog unit in the region in Ussita (province of Macerata).
The training course will be held at the headquarters of Tolentino next February 26: participants will be helped in the work of distinguishing the predation of wolves from that of other animals, taking inspiration from national and community protocols. The wolf has once again been recognized as an important animal for environmental balance: it has been underlined how its link with man goes beyond the problems of predation, given that some sports tactics are inspired by the animal's hunting techniques.
How exactly do photo traps work? Camera traps are sophisticated systems that automatically photograph an animal that crosses an area where the camera is positioned, without the need for the operator to shoot in real time. They are essential for wildlife management (in particular wildlife censuses and their monitoring), but they are also useful when naturalistic researches or in the field of cryptozoology must be carried out.