Reports of wolf sightings are on the rise in Italy, with five suspected attacks recorded in Puglia, where several people have been injured.
On 20 August, three tourists, including a 52-year-old woman and her 12-year-old daughter, were attacked by an animal believed to be a wolf while staying at tourist accommodation in Punta Pizzo, near Gallipoli. All three were taken to hospital, with the woman and girl later discharged with a prognosis of 14 days.
According to initial reports, the animal first targeted a small dog at the property before attacking the tourists. The Carabinieri, with the support of vets from the local health authority, are investigating to identify the animal and establish whether it was a wolf.
Other suspected attacks have involved minors, with three children injured since the beginning of August. The latest occurred on 15 August in Noicattaro, near Bari, when a six-year-old boy was bitten by an animal believed to be a wolf.
The boy suffered chest injuries and was admitted to the paediatric surgery ward of the Giovanni XXIII hospital.
