Tuscany councilor calls for Kangal dogs against wolf attacks

ISTANBUL

An Italian regional councilor has called for using Turkey’s giant Kangal shepherd dogs to protect flocks of sheep from the increasing number of wolves in Tuscany.

Roberto Salvini, a member of the Regional Council of Tuscany and Northern League politician, made the call following the killing of about 70 sheep by wolves, BBC reported on Sept. 20.

“The wire fence method against the wolves did not work. The dogs brought in to control and protect the flocks flee when they face predators. We had proposed buying Sivas Kangal dogs in order to deal with such incidents as an awesome preventive measure but our proposal was disregarded,” he said.

The Kangal shepherd dog, a huge livestock guardian breed originating from Turkey’s Central Anatolian province of Sivas, has been used in several countries in Africa and North America to protect the herd. They have been known for their big devotion to the flock and people, bulky size and intelligence and for being guardians rather than herding dogs.

The number of wolves in Italy is estimated to have increased from 100 to 1,600 in 1971 when they had been put under protection.

A plan to kill 5 percent of the wolves was averted by opposition from animal rights associations and the Italian Ministry of the Environment last year.