In the green heart of the Apennines, among the secular forests of National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molisea news rekindles hope for one of the most emblematic inhabitants of these mountains: theMarsican brown bear. Fourteen puppies, a number that marks a record in recent years, have been spotted during the last monitoring, a fact that reveals the resilience of this unique species, but that must not let the guard down.
The discovery, the result of the meticulous work of the Park Authority and the Professor Paolo Ciuccizoologist of theLa Sapienza University of Romewhich has developed the monitoring methodology, highlights a significant fact: the expansion of the area of ​​reproductive females. In addition to the ten puppies born within the park’s borders, four others have been sighted in neighboring areas, such as the GENZANA RESERVE and the Maiella parka signal that could indicate a slow, but constant, reconquest of the territory by these animals.
However, as Professor Ciucci pointed out to Fanpage, the joy for the new births is tempered by the awareness of the challenges that these puppies will have to face. “Mortality in the first twelve months of life is around 50%“, Explains the zoologist,” a fact that requires us to intensify the efforts to understand the causes of this loss and to guarantee a future for this species “.
The Marsican bear, with an estimated population between 50 and 60 specimensis a unique subspecies in the world, genetically distinct from the European brown bear. His survival is closely linked to the conservation of his habitat, threatened by the fragmentation of the territory, road accidents and poaching.
The monitoring methodology, Inspired by the protocols used in Yellowstone National Parkin the United States, it is based on rigorous space-temporal criteria and involves dozens of operators on the field every year. Thanks to this work, it is possible to collect precious data on the population of Marsican bears, fundamental information to guide conservation strategies.
But the protection of the Marsican bear is not only the task of the institutions. As the Abruzzo National Park points out, each of us can contribute to this objective, supporting the conservation initiatives, guiding with caution in the areas at risk of crossing Orsi e promoting coexistence with wildlife.
The history of the Marsican bear is a story of resilience, of a species that, despite adversity, continues to fight for survival. The birth of these fourteen puppies is a sign of hope, an invitation not to lower the guard and continue to protect this unique heritage of the Apennines.
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