Park and surrounding area
The first phase of genetic monitoring of theMarsican brown bear, to estimate with the best possible precision the population size of one of Europe's rarest mammals. The activity took place in the species' core distribution area, which falls primarily within the PNALM and its contiguous zone, but also in all peripheral expansion zones, including the Maiella National Park, the Sirente-Velino massif, the Simbruini-Ernici massif, and the Cicolano mountains. It resulted in the collection of 854 fur samples, which will now be analyzed by specialized laboratories.
Pre-arranged installations
To obtain these, odor traps were set up using odorous bait, traps in familiar trees where bears scratch themselves (scratching posts), and traps around thorn bushes, where bears find fruit to feed on. Thanks to over four hundred installations, genetic material was collected for biomolecular analyses, which will allow us to estimate the population size and distribution range of the species, both in historical and recently colonized areas. The activities, which were non-invasive for the species, were carried out with full respect for the environment, without any manipulation of live animals and ensuring the restoration of the sites to their original conditions.
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Sample collection
The project, funded under the PNRR (National Plan for the Protection of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection) with the "Digitalization of National Parks and Marine Protected Areas" measure, was implemented by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security through the Institute of Applied Ecology (IEA) and with the technical and scientific coordination of ISPRA. The initiative represented an unprecedented effort in terms of its scale, the scope of the sampled area, and the involvement of institutions and stakeholders: central and regional governments, parks and reserves, the Carabinieri, monitoring networks, and associations. The initial results of the sample collection were presented at a conference on December 18 in Pescasseroli, at the headquarters of the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park. The conference highlighted the teamwork, training of operators, and synergy among all stakeholders. The results achieved will represent a solid scientific reference for the protection of the Marsican brown bear, providing essential foundations for planning future non-invasive genetic sampling programs and, above all, for defining increasingly targeted and effective protection strategies (source: ISPRA).
