There are those who meet their neighbor in the morning and those who, instead, find themselves in front of a young Marsican brown bear. This is what happened in Castel di Sangro, in the province of L’Aquila, where in the early hours of the day a specimen was spotted taking a bath in the waters of the Zittola river, before continuing its walk through the streets of the town centre.
The animal appeared around 7 in the morning, creating a scene that surprised residents and passers-by. After cooling off in the watercourse, the plantigrade continued its journey with extreme tranquility, inevitably attracting the attention of those who were starting their day.
From the river to the station between amazement and curiosity
Having finished his bath, the young bear crossed the city until he reached the Sangritana station, where numerous people present for the morning breakfast witnessed the unusual passage. Between disbelief and curiosity, many have observed one of the symbolic animals of the central Apennines moving without particular agitation.
The plantigrade was also filmed during its journey, images that once again demonstrate how the presence of the Marsican bear is closely linked to this territory. After reaching the station area, the animal then moved away, disappearing into the surrounding vegetation.
The hypothesis: it could be one of the cubs of the Bambina bear
According to initial assessments, the young specimen could be one of the two cubs of the Bambina bear, an animal well known by the inhabitants of the area for its frequent movements between Roccaraso and Castel di Sangro. At the moment this is a hypothesis, but the presence of the female in this area makes this possibility plausible.
A precious heritage to be observed with respect (and from afar)
The Marsican brown bear represents one of the rarest and most precious species of Italian fauna. The estimated specimens are in fact just around fifty, making each sighting an event of great naturalistic interest. Precisely for this reason, its appearance near inhabited centers always arouses emotion, but also the need to maintain responsible behavior.
Indeed, if on the one hand the Castel di Sangro episode confirms the extraordinary environmental richness of the Apennines and the growing familiarity of these animals with areas close to humans, it is essential to remember the importance of always observing bears from a distance, avoiding approaching or disturbing them, so that coexistence between people and wildlife can continue with the utmost respect for the safety of both.
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