Italy expands animal‑welfare hotline and urges action on Lago Salso

The Environment Commission in Turin has inaugurated a new LAV (Lega Antivivisezione) reporting desk to receive, verify and forward animal‑cruelty complaints. Operating on Mondays and Thursdays, the service handled 38 reports in its first month, conducted 24 site inspections, forwarded five denunciations to law‑enforcement and helped rescue 13 animals. Volunteers first assess the cases before involving the police, aiming to prevent frivolous reports and improve protection for animals.

In Manfredonia, activists from Europa Verde and the WWF highlighted the urgent need for measures to protect the Lago Salso wetland. A commission‑ordered site visit, aided by drone footage from activist Maurizio Marrese, documented the degraded state of the area’s infrastructure. The commission called for coordinated action with the Gargano Park authorities, noting that the absence of the area's liquidating commissioner has delayed decisions on the site’s future.