In recent days, as part of a service aimed at the prevention and repression of crimes against wildlife and coordinated by the CC PN Aspromonte Department of Reggio Calabria, the soldiers of the CC Park Unit of Oppido Mamertina have identified and reported a person responsible for poaching activities against the dormouse (Glis glis), a species protected by national and community legislation, of particular ecological importance, whose capture, detention and killing constitute a crime.
The activity originates from a territorial control service within the Aspromonte National Park, carried out in the “Izzi” area, in the municipality of Santa Cristina d’Aspromonte, a wooded area characterized by the presence of holm oaks and an ideal habitat for dormice. During patrolling, the military noticed the presence of two wooden rods with attached snap traps, probably intended for the capture of these species.
Given this evidence, the military decided to start a prolonged observation service, installing a camera trap for this purpose. The device was left running for several days, allowing images useful for identifying the perpetrator to be acquired.
From the analysis of the videos, it was ascertained that a male subject reached the area with a car and proceeded to inspect the traps, picking them up and loading them on board the vehicle.
Thanks to the investigations carried out subsequently, the military managed to identify the alleged person responsible, who was subsequently summoned and heard who, in the circumstance, admitted his responsibilities regarding the placement and management of the traps.
Two wooden traps with a snap device and a carcass of a lifeless dormouse, victim of the capture system, were seized on site. The man was therefore referred to the Judicial Authority for the crimes of killing animals (art. 544-bis of the criminal code), aggravated theft of fauna (art. 624 of the criminal code) and violations of Law 157/1992 on the protection of homeothermic fauna and hunting activity.
In this regard, we would like to remind you that dormouse specimens are expressly protected by the Bern Convention of 19/09/1979, ratified in Italy with law no. of 5 August 1981. 503, included in Annex III.
The operation confirms the constant commitment of the Forestry Carabinieri in safeguarding the mountain ecosystems of Aspromonte and in protecting biodiversity, continuously combating all forms of poaching and illegal activities against wildlife.