An investigation in southern Italy has uncovered a horrific practice after authorities found cats with rags soaked in flammable liquid tied to their tails.…
An investigation in southern Italy has uncovered a horrific practice after authorities found cats with rags soaked in flammable liquid tied to their tails. The animals were released into the dry vegetation and turned into moving sources of fire, which led to a series of forest fires in Calabria, reported CNN.
According to Domenico Costarella of the local Civil Protection Agency, the cats literally ran and spread the flames. Other evidence of deliberate actions was found on the ground – lit candles on flammable materials and ignition devices. Firefighters continue to fight the fire around the Pollino National Park, with more than 160 missions carried out in just one day.
The Italian Association for the Protection of Animals has filed a crime report and announced a reward for information on the perpetrators. Such cases are not new – in 2016 and 2017, similar tactics were detected in Sicily and near Vesuvius, and according to experts, mafia groups often cause fires to acquire burned land cheaply or use it for green energy projects. Local authorities are demanding a change in public thinking and stricter measures against such crimes, defining the actions as “inhumane” and dangerous for people, animals and the environment.
Illustrative photo: pexels-thomasronveaux-17152995
