Apennine initiatives promote coexistence between wolves and livestock

Efforts to manage the coexistence between wolves and livestock in the Apennines are being highlighted through educational initiatives and veterinary field work. In Barrea, an upcoming event titled ‘I sentieri della coesistenza: il lupo, la pecora e il cane da protezione’ aims to address the relationship between large carnivores, sheep farming, and human activity.

The program includes a guided itinerary through pastures and forests to discuss wolf ecology, biodiversity, and the role of extensive grazing in landscape conservation. Participants will visit the Zooristur Agricultural Farm to meet breeders and discuss practical solutions, such as the use of livestock protection dogs to mitigate predator attacks.

In the Foreste Casentinesi National Park, veterinarian Nadia Cappai works to support these coexistence efforts. By providing and training protection dogs for farmers, her projects have reportedly reduced wolf predations from approximately 10–12 incidents per year to nearly zero. Her work involves monitoring wolf movements via camera traps and responding to wildlife-related incidents to minimize conflict between humans and nature.