Europe’s most vulnerable carnivore
The Marsican brown bear is one of central Europe’s last remaining apex predators. With just over 60 individuals remaining, it is classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “Critically Endangered”. Yet, for the long-term viability of the ecosystems of the Apennines Mountains, the Marsican brown bear’s
survival is crucial.
We support Salviamo l’Orso in their mission to rejuvenate this fragile population, and secure a future for the Marsican brown bear.
We Support Salviamo l’Orso’s Conservation Work
Salviamo l’Orso is working to enhance bear habitats and improve connectivity between them. The growth of the population relies on the bear’s expansion from the core areas of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park.
To improve the condition of habitats, the forests and grasslands of the Central Apennines are being conserved and improved. Native fruit trees are being planted, while pollinator diversity is being promoted to enable the regeneration of vegetation. By removing barbed wire fencing, left from old agricultural traditions, connectivity between bear populations is being encouraged.
Salviamo l’Orso is working to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. Electric fences and bear-proof waste bins are being distributed, while traditional methods of coexistence are being unearthed. The small population has a limited ability to respond to new environmental stresses, many of which are introduced by humans. Salviamo l’Orso is combating the threat of road collisions by installing acoustic and optical wildlife warning reflectors on road surfaces. A canine vaccination programme has reduced the transmission of potentially harmful diseases.
Salviamo l’Orso’s Achievements
Over 100,000 metres of barbed wire removed from Apennine Mountains
Over 250 electric fences installed
100 per cent decline in bear-related damages in two bear-smart communities
“Thanks to TENT’s support, Salviamo L’Orso has been able to scale up work initiated in a few small pilot areas to the whole distribution range of the Marsican brown bear, enabling human-bear coexistence”
Stefano Orlandini
Chairman, Salviamo l’Orso
TENT and Salviamo l’Orso’s Partnership
The European Nature Trust has an annual funding commitment to support Salviamo l’Orso’s work. Through our collaboration with companies and donors, we engage new supporters and drive fundraising efforts for Salviamo l’Orso’s work. Our conservation journeys to the Apennine region allow people to connect with Italy’s landscapes, while enabling travellers to make a financial contribution to Salviamo l’Orso’s conservation work.
Experience Abruzzo and support bear conservation
You can contribute to the conservation of the Marsican brown bear by joining our Late Summer Bear and Wolf Coexistence Adventure. Immerse yourself in the wilderness of Abruzzo, meeting like-minded nature lovers and conservationists from Salviamo l’Orso, with proceeds driving conservation efforts.
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Read MoreMarsican Brown Bear Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers about Marsican Brown Bear conservation efforts.
Just over 60 Marsican brown bears remain. The IUCN classifies the population as Critically Endangered, making it Europe’s most vulnerable carnivore. It is one of the last remaining apex predators in the region.
The Marsican brown bear lives in the Central Apennine Mountains of Italy. Its core range is the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. The population can only grow if bears expand out from these core areas.
Salviamo l’Orso is a conservation organisation working to secure a future for the Marsican brown bear. It improves bear habitats and the connectivity between them. It also works to prevent conflict between bears and people.
Salviamo l’Orso conserves and improves the forests and grasslands of the Central Apennines. It plants native fruit trees and promotes pollinator diversity to help vegetation regenerate. It also removes barbed wire fencing left from old agricultural practices to reconnect bear populations. More than 100,000 metres of barbed wire have been removed so far.
Salviamo l’Orso distributes electric fences and bear-proof waste bins, and has installed more than 250 electric fences. In two bear-smart communities, bear-related damage has fallen by 100%. It installs acoustic and optical wildlife warning reflectors on roads to reduce collisions. A canine vaccination programme has also reduced the spread of potentially harmful diseases.
The European Nature Trust has an annual funding commitment to Salviamo l’Orso. Working with companies and donors, TENT engages new supporters and drives fundraising. According to Salviamo l’Orso’s chairman, Stefano Orlandini, TENT’s support has helped the charity scale its work from small pilot areas to the bear’s whole distribution range.
You can join TENT’s Late Summer Bear and Wolf Adventure in Abruzzo. Travellers meet conservationists from Salviamo l’Orso, and proceeds from the trip support its conservation work.
