The training course for the handlers of the LIFE PLUTO Project's Anti-Poison Dog Units (and those belonging to the LIFE MIRCO-lupo's and Medwolf's projects) ended on May 6th 2016 with a qualifying examination and the following transfer of dogs and handlers to their operational headquarters.

At this point of the course, taking place between April and May 2016 at the Marsiliana State Reserve (GR), all the six handlers of the LIFE PLUTO project are establishing a close relationship with the dogs they will work with in the next years.

Endorsing the important role played by the Anti-poison Dog Units for the conservation of the wild animals and for the well-being of pets, Nova Foods - an Italian company producing animal feed for cats and dogs - with its brand "Trainer", decided to support the LIFE PLUTO project's Anti-poison Dog Units.

The protagonists of this training course are the careful and enthusiastic new handlers of the State Forestry Corps and the six lively dogs -  skillfully trained by the Spanish trainer and handler Raúl Martín - that have been taught how to search for poison and that will be entrusted to the new handlers of the State Forestry Corps at the end of the course.

The Gran Sasso-Laga Park has published a brochure, built an information panel and produced three roll-up billboards showing the LIFE PLUTO project's actions and supplying basic information regarding the illegal use of poison.

The feeding station has been placed in the northern area of the Gran Sasso-Laga Park to sustain the scavenging birds of prey, and it is supplied with unproductive sheep given by local zootechnical farms.

The training of the dogs that will be part of the six Anti-poison dog units of the State Forestry Corps is underway in Andalusia, Spain.

The State Forestry Corps, 7th division, in collaboration with the Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park, realized a qualification course for the training and the activity of the Anti-poison dog units, which took place in the enchanting Marsiliana State Nature Reserve, in the province of Grosseto.

The Gran Sasso-Laga National Park is planning a meeting with the farmers aimed at creating a feeding station for birds of prey in the municipality of Rocca S. Maria (TE), as it is provided by the action C.4 of the LIFE PLUTO project.

From 17th to 21st November 2014, some staff members of the LIFE PLUTO Project took part in the training course for handlers and collaborators of Anti-poison dog units of the LIFE WOLFALPS Project. The course, which took place in Entracque (Cuneo), was organized by the State Forestry Corps and supported by the Alpi Marittime Regional Park.