In Calabria, in 2020, criminal proceedings for animal crimes are far too many. This was revealed by the Zoomafia 2021 report of the Italian anti-vivisection league (LAV) , which identifies in a number – 387 – the files opened for mistreatment on animals, with 198 suspects and a rate of 10 for every 100 thousand inhabitants.

The Zoomafia 2021 report

The Zoomafia 2021 report is now in its twenty-second edition and was written by Ciro Troiano, criminologist and head of the Zoomafia Observatory of the LAV. The report analyzes the illegal exploitation of animals by crime in 2020 and can count on the patronage of the Antonino Caponnetto Foundation. 

The picture that emerges is bleak: almost every 23 hours in Calabria, in 2020, a criminal case was opened for crimes against animals, with a suspect every 44 hours or so. In fact, 387 cases have been registered (about 4.18% of national ones) for criminal offenses against animals , with a rate of about 20 proceedings per 100 thousand inhabitants.

The suspects are 198 (about 3.74% of the national ones), with a rate of 10 per 100 thousand inhabitants.  The data comes from the ten Ordinary Prosecutors and two Calabrian Juvenile Prosecutors, which provided the numbers of criminal proceedings that occurred in 2020, both known and against unknown persons, and the number of suspects for crimes against animals. 

Illegal activities against animals are worrying

The data of the Report relating to Calabria only confirm the concerns about illegal activities against animals already expressed in previous Zoomafia Reports: from clandestine horse racing, to dog fights, from clandestine slaughtering to organized poaching, from wildlife trafficking. wild to poaching, illegality in the management of strays .

Diversified and often the result of organized activities, crimes against animals in Calabria reiterate the need to identify shared strategies that can implement preventive and contrasting actions.

-1%: a figure that does not hearten

In reality, the figure expressed in the 2021 Report shows, in the territorial context of 9 Calabrian prosecutors out of 10 who provided answers for both years, a negative decline in criminal proceedings of 1% and -18% of the number of suspects compared to 2019 . 

However, according to the author of the analysis, it is not a question of a decrease to be rejoiced in. Troiano, in fact, invites us not to let our guard down and underlines: ” As for the other Regions, we believe this decrease in proceedings is due to the lockdown period and that in reality it does not correspond to an effective decrease in crimes against animals, but indicates only a decrease in complaints and ascertained facts “.

In-depth interventions are needed

Calabria therefore emerges as a region strongly affected by animal crimes . A phenomenon that, in its multifaceted being, is often not investigated sufficiently or with due effectiveness.

“ From the analysis of the ascertained crimes –  continues Troiano –  the absence of criminal proceedings for organizing fights between animals, a criminal trend that deserves more investigative attention, stands out. Various, complex and often organized, crimes against animals in Calabria confirm the need for more in-depth interventions and more radical counter strategies “. 

” Behind the various forms of animal abuse, there are often other crimes and other criminal realities – he concludes –  and for this it is necessary to adopt a unitary strategic vision of the various aspects of illegality to the detriment of animals in order to refine prevention activities and contrast techniques “.