Anti-poison canine units engaged in Giaveno

On Monday, February 24, 2025, the anti-poison dog units of the Protected Areas of the Cottian Alps were engaged in a double inspection in the territory of Giaveno (TO) to verify two areas where the presence of poisoned baits was suspected. The first, in the morning, took place in the area of Borgata Pomeri and was arranged by the Carabinieri in the area where, the week before, a wolf carcass had been found with traces of toxic substances during the necropsy. Luna and Maya, with their handlers and park rangers Bonicelli and Brino, were joined by Myrtille with handler Geymonat from the Protected Areas of the Po in Piedmont, and Kyra with handler Peraldo from the Forestry Carabinieri of Omegna (VB). The operations focused on the wooded slopes above the town, but yielded negative results as the dogs did not find any traces of suspicious baits.
During the day, the Carabinieri of Giaveno received a report from a citizen who had found a suspected poisoned bait in another area of the municipality characterized by agricultural land commonly frequented by dog owners with their four-legged friends. While the specimen was being collected and delivered to the Experimental Zooprophilactic Institute of Piedmont and Aosta Valley for analysis, a second inspection was decided upon, which again yielded a negative result.
In the Protected Areas of the Cottian Alps, the anti-poison dog units were established as part of the two Life WolfAlps projects, of which the park authority has been a partner from 2014 to 2018 and from 2019 to 2024, with the aim of combating poaching of wildlife using toxic substances. Their work, however, is proving very useful even in areas where conflicts between people and domestic animals exist, which can lead to criminal behavior. With the end of the most recent Life WolfAlps Eu project, activities to combat poisoning of wildlife continue thanks to the support of the Capellino Foundation, which provides the necessary food for the sustenance of the anti-poison dog units.