Italian authorities are investigating claims that arsonists used stray cats as living torches to ignite wildfires in Calabria.. These attacks have devastated protected areas like the Pollino National Park during a period of extreme drought.
The Cruel Use of Stray Cats in Pollino National Park
Investigators in Calabria allege that arsonists have been fitting stray cats with rags soaked in flammable liquids, setting them alight, and releasing the animals into dry brush. According to the report, this horrific method was used to spread flames across the rugged landscape of the Pollino National Park, one of Italy's largest protected areas, where approximately 1,000 hectares of vegetation have been destroyed.
Domenico Costarella, the head of Calabria's Civil Protection agency, stated that these animals were released to run through fields and spread fire. costarella noted that more than 160 fires have been recorded across Calabria recently, attributing many of these blazes to "malicious individuals" rather than natural causes. In addition to the use of animals, authorities reportedly found candles and homemade delayed-ignition devices near burnt-out zones.
From the Camorra to the Nebrodi Regional Park
The use of animals to spark wildfires is not an isolated incident in Italy, but rather a recurring tactic linked to organized crime. As the report says, similar attacks were previously linked to criminal groups in Sicily, specifically within the Nebrodi Regional Park in 2016. In 2017, the Camorra mafia allegedly employed the same method to ignite fires in the protected woodlands beneath Mount Vesuvius, an event that required the deployment of the Italian army and forced local evacuations.
These crimes are often viewed by researchers as strategic economic attacks. By deliberately burning land, criminal organizations can devalue the property, allowing them to purchase the scorched earth cheaply or exert greater control over the territory. This pattern suggests that the current fires in Calabria may be less about random chaos and more about calculated territorial acquisition.
11,500 Hectares Scorched Amid a European Heatwave
The arson attacks in Calabria are occurring against a backdrop of extreme weather that has left southern Europe vulnerable. Across Italy, more than 11,500 hectares of land have been scorched during the current heatwave. Italy's Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi confirmed that the emergency has already claimed the life of one firefighter.
The crisis extends beyond Italian borders, with France and Spain facing similar devastation. In south-west France, fast-moving fires west of Bordeaux forced the evacuation of more than 20,000 residents and tourists. Meanwhile, in Spain's Guadalajara province, a massive blaze has consumed over 32,000 hectares. Data from the European Forest Fire Information System indicates that roughly 250,000 hectares have burned across Europe this year, nearly doubling the long-term average.
A €1,000 Reward and the Search for the Arsonists
In response to the cruelty, Italy's Association for the Defence of Animals and the Environment has offered a €1,000 reward for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible. the organization has also filed criminal complaints with prosecutors to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable for both the environmental destruction and the animal abuse.
Despite these efforts , several critical questions remain. It is currently unclear if the "malicious individuals" identified by Domenico Costarella are operating as lone actors or as part of a coordinated syndicate similar to the Camorra. Furthermore, while investigators have found evidence of flammable rags and ignition devices, the report does not specify how many individuals have been formally charged or if any suspects are currently in custody.
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