The Forestry of Matera finds poaching traps to catch wild boars in the protected area of the Regional Park of the Rupestrian Churches.
The men of the State Forestry Corps, Matera Station Command, during the hunting control activity inside the Regional Park of the Rock Churches found poacher traps with laces for the fraudulent capture of game.
The traps were found in an olive grove located in the area of "Masseria Mandolalena", hidden in order to be able to surprise wild boars or other wild animals passing through the area. In particular, the traps are composed of steel laces positioned so that once the animal passes through them they tighten around the body until it is immobilized; generally this type of trap is used to catch wild boars but often other species such as badgers, stone martens, foxes and other medium-sized animals are also trapped.
The legislation on hunting prohibits the use of traps for hunting, furthermore in protected areas any type of hunting activity is absolutely forbidden. All the poaching equipment found was immediately dismantled by the Forest Guard agents who then proceeded to the seizure; moreover, the investigation activity was started aimed at identifying the poachers who had placed the traps.