It is slaughter in the stables and on the pastures of sheep and goats torn to pieces, slaughtered cows and lambs killed in Puglia, where the presence of the wolf it has multiplied in recent years with the repetition of massacres in the farms on the Bari and Taranto Murgia and on the Gargano. This is what he says Coldiretti Puglia, following the resurgence of the phenomenon of wolf attacks, tripled also following the long lockdown for the Coronavirus, which in the night in the province of Taranto, in a farm between Mottola and Martina Franca, near the Sant'Antuono wood, they attacked and killed 25 sheep and seriously injured the rest of the flock that will be killed.
“In the space of ten years, the wolves have multiplied, putting at risk not only the animals in the stables and in the pasture, but also the very lives of farmers and ranchers. In Puglia the damage caused by wildlife is enormous, with a damage of over 11 million euros. Containment measures are essential in order not to let the pastures die and force thousands of families to flee, who for generations have populated the most difficult rural areas where breeding is the main activity, but also the many young people who laboriously returned to restore the lost biodiversity with the recovery of the historic Apulian breeds, such as the 'Gentile' sheep from Altamura or the 'Moscia' from Lecce.
The problem of large carnivores is becoming unsustainable and it is necessary to find a solution quickly ”, he complains Savino Muraglia, president of Coldiretti Puglia. "The now unmanageable issue of wildlife and predators - insists President Muraglia - must be addressed at the highest levels with a joint strategy between the Ministry of the Environment and the Puglia Region to establish the measures to be taken to protect agricultural and livestock farms". The preys either disappear because the wolves take them away or they are bitten on the jugular and left dead on the spot - reports Coldiretti Puglia - or only shreds are found and the numbers say a lot about the need to raise the alert level and plan effective rebalancing activities. wildlife that jeopardizes the very safety of people.
In addition to the animals killed - Coldiretti Puglia specifies - the damage caused by the fright and the state of stress caused by the assaults, with reduced milk production and abortions in the surviving animals. Responsibility is needed in the defense of farms, shepherds and breeders who courageously continue to guard the livestock areas and ensure the beauty of the landscape. Without the pastures - states Coldiretti Puglia - extraordinary areas such as the Bari and Taranto Murgia and the Gargano die, the environment degrades and landslides and floods threaten the cities. In recent years it has become necessary a continuous watch over flocks and herds, in order to protect them from attacks as fences and shepherd dogs are often not enough to avert the danger.
The resistance of farmers is at the limit - explains Coldiretti - it is urgent to find new methods of action that allow them to organize more effectively a management system for these predatory animals, which are no longer an endangered species. Responsibility is needed in the defense of farms, shepherds and breeders who - underlines Coldiretti - courageously continue to guard the mountains and ensure the beauty of the landscape, against decay, landslides and floods that also threaten the cities. Moreover, this situation is added to the problems of overpopulation of numerous other wild species, from wild boars to starlings, from cormorants to hares, which multiply in a situation of absolute lack of adequate planning measures necessary to avoid conflict with agricultural work. Only from January to September 2019 - concludes Coldiretti Puglia - wolves attacked, injured and killed sheep, lambs, cows, calves, goats, pigs, donkeys, horses, for a total of 510 head, based on the complaints of the breeders.