The aim of the project is to monitor the wolf population living in the upper Valle del Fiume Taro and to combat misinformation about this precious predator.
The wolf (Canis lupus italicus), having come close to extinction half a century ago, is now going through a natural phase of expansion across the whole of Italy and is slowly returning to the places from which it was driven out by rifle fire and poison. The return of this elusive predator is unquestionably good news: as well as adding a sense of wonder to our forests, it is indispensable for the restoration of important ecological processes known as trophic cascades.
Studying and monitoring these animals is complicated — perhaps mindful of the suffering our species has inflicted on theirs, they avoid contact with humans as much as possible. In some areas, moreover, no institutional monitoring of the species is currently under way. One such area is the Valle del Taro, a territory covered by extensive woodland, cut through by streams and jagged with steep cliffs, lying between the Ligurian Sea and the Po Valley in the Northern Apennines. To fill this gap, the association Io non ho paura del lupo, founded just over a year ago, has decided to launch an investigation into the presence of the large predator, also with the aim of portraying the wolf in a balanced way. The species is all too often the victim of bad press and is frequently looked upon unfavourably by farmers and hunters.
The association has begun monitoring wolves using camera traps, analysing a small area of the territory with the aim of estimating the size of the resident population. The photographs and footage have made it possible to tell the stories of Codino, Sottiletta, Zena, Recco and Ombra — the names given to some of the wolves that inhabit the valley. As well as fieldwork, Io non ho paura del lupo is working to mitigate the conflict between the predator and farmers, and to promote awareness and respect for these animals.
All of these activities, carried out until now on a voluntary basis and with very limited financial resources, are nonetheless costly. This is why the association has decided to launch a crowdfunding project bearing the same name as the association itself. "This citizen science project dedicated to the wolf can only be realised with the support of enthusiasts and ordinary citizens," reads an association press release, "in order to obtain data such as an estimate of the wolf population present, assess the extent of packs across the territory, and record births and the growth of cubs."
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The project involves two years of monitoring, from 1 May 2018 to 30 April 2020, a period that covers two wolf reproductive cycles. The fundraising campaign, launched on the crowdfunding platform Produzioni dal basso, aims to raise 65,000 euros, which will be used to purchase new equipment and a small second-hand off-road vehicle, to cover project costs, and to fund the communications campaign.
The census activity, the association explains, is necessary in order to contribute effectively to the protection of the species and to promote coexistence with human activities. Oversight of the project — in which enthusiasts as well as biologists, naturalists, university lecturers, farmers and livestock breeders are taking part — will be entrusted to a scientific committee. The data collected will ultimately be made available to the relevant institutions, making this project the first example in Italy of ordinary citizens actively contributing to the safeguarding of a species of crucial importance such as the Apennine wolf.