That was a close one: This morning in northern Italy, a wolf swam for its life in a canal. Turns out, he was very lucky in the accident - firefighters fished him out of the water, which wasn't even easy, but they did a good job.
The intervention began shortly after 7 a.m. in Gaggiano, an agricultural municipality in the southeast of the Milan area, between Via Milano and Via Italia. Firefighters from the Milan detachment on Via Darwin and the SAF (Speleo-Alpine-Fluvial) river unit arrived at the scene. Veterinarians from the ATS in Magenta (Milan) arrived at 12:30 p.m. to take charge of the wolf rescued this morning from the waters of the Naviglio Grande canal.
As explained by the Milan firefighters, the animal is expected to be handed over to a CRAS (wildlife recovery center) in either Milan or Piacenza. While awaiting this support, the firefighters had no choice but to keep the wolf secured in a net on the raft used to retrieve it, for safety reasons. Nevertheless, the animal appeared docile and allowed itself to be petted by the firefighters, who tried to keep it calm.
"Naviglio" refers to a system of navigable canals in the Lombardy region of Italy, particularly associated with Milan. The term comes from the Italian word "naviglio," meaning "canal" or "waterway." These canals were originally constructed for irrigation, transportation, and to support trade and agriculture, dating back to the Middle Ages. The most famous ones in Milan are the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese, which are still visible today and are part of the city's historical and cultural landscape. In modern times, the Naviglio Grande, for example, is a popular area for tourism, dining, and nightlife.
Italian wolves, specifically the Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus), are a subspecies of the grey wolf native to the Italian Peninsula. They’ve adapted to a variety of habitats, from the forests and mountains of the Apennines to more open rural areas. Here’s a rundown of what makes them interesting:
Size: They’re generally smaller than other European grey wolves. Males typically weigh 24–40 kg (53–88 lbs), and females are a bit lighter, around 20–35 kg (44–77 lbs). Length-wise, they’re about 100–140 cm (39–55 inches) long, not counting the tail.
Appearance: Their fur is usually greyish with a mix of black and brown tones, though it can vary. In winter, it thickens up to handle the colder Apennine weather. Some have lighter, almost whitish coats, especially in certain regions.
Since the 1970s, thanks to legal protection and reforestation, their population has rebounded. They’re now found from the central-southern Apennines up to the western Alps, occasionally popping up near human settlements. Estimates suggest there are about 1,500–2,000 wolves in Italy today.
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The intervention began shortly after 7 a.m. in Gaggiano, an agricultural municipality in the southeast of the Milan area, between Via Milano and Via Italia. Firefighters from the Milan detachment on Via Darwin and the SAF (Speleo-Alpine-Fluvial) river unit arrived at the scene. Veterinarians from the ATS in Magenta (Milan) arrived at 12:30 p.m. to take charge of the wolf rescued this morning from the waters of the Naviglio Grande canal.
As explained by the Milan firefighters, the animal is expected to be handed over to a CRAS (wildlife recovery center) in either Milan or Piacenza. While awaiting this support, the firefighters had no choice but to keep the wolf secured in a net on the raft used to retrieve it, for safety reasons. Nevertheless, the animal appeared docile and allowed itself to be petted by the firefighters, who tried to keep it calm.
"Naviglio" refers to a system of navigable canals in the Lombardy region of Italy, particularly associated with Milan. The term comes from the Italian word "naviglio," meaning "canal" or "waterway." These canals were originally constructed for irrigation, transportation, and to support trade and agriculture, dating back to the Middle Ages. The most famous ones in Milan are the Naviglio Grande and Naviglio Pavese, which are still visible today and are part of the city's historical and cultural landscape. In modern times, the Naviglio Grande, for example, is a popular area for tourism, dining, and nightlife.
Italian wolves, specifically the Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus), are a subspecies of the grey wolf native to the Italian Peninsula. They’ve adapted to a variety of habitats, from the forests and mountains of the Apennines to more open rural areas. Here’s a rundown of what makes them interesting:
Size: They’re generally smaller than other European grey wolves. Males typically weigh 24–40 kg (53–88 lbs), and females are a bit lighter, around 20–35 kg (44–77 lbs). Length-wise, they’re about 100–140 cm (39–55 inches) long, not counting the tail.
Since the 1970s, thanks to legal protection and reforestation, their population has rebounded. They’re now found from the central-southern Apennines up to the western Alps, occasionally popping up near human settlements. Estimates suggest there are about 1,500–2,000 wolves in Italy today.
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