Italian Wolf and Bear Tour in Abruzzo - 3 Days

Italian Wolves and Marsican Brown Bear Tour

This 3-day Italian Wolf and Bear Tour is a moderately-paced trip available on request where you can expect to see up to 10 large mammals, at 50 to 60 species of bird and other amphibians and reptiles.  This tour takes place in Abruzzo, an area known for being one of the wildest regions in Italy. Its mountains are characterised by extraordinary biodiversity and the “Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park” is considered one of the best places in Europe for the observation of large mammals, and of course wildlife in Italy.

Among these, the Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) and the Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus), and the endemic Apennine chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata) deserve particular attention.

The Marsican brown bear, endemic to Central Italy, represents one of the flagships of the zoological diversity of the Italian territory. Although its population is made up of a small number of specimens, encounters with this species are not uncommon, especially in the spring or late summer when the bears are busy feeding before and after the winter hibernation. During the weekend we will track this plantigrade, as well another excellence of the Park: the Italian wolf.

Established in 1921, the Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Park (its full name) or PNALM, was the first protected area to be established in Italy. It has a territory consisting of a multitude of chains with peaks between 900 and 2200 meters. In a scenery composed of breathtaking landscapes, the Park hosts extraordinary biodiversity. In fact, in addition to mammals (wolf, brown bear, chamois, and other ungulates), also all the other classes of vertebrates are well represented and each of them includes numerous taxa of great conservation interest (as for example Salamandrina perspicillata, Vipera ursinii, Denrocopos leucotos, etc.).

The entomofauna is also of great value (there are numerous species of butterflies and beetles, among which it is impossible not to mention the wonderful Rosalia alpina). The flora with the centuries-old beechs and conifers, the endemics, and the dozens of orchid species, fascinate even the most demanding botanists.

So, we will also have the opportunity to focus on birdwatching, on the observation of reptiles and amphibians, without forgetting to enjoy the wonderful landscapes of the Park and the history and culture of the area.

Italian Wolf and Bear Tour Highlights include:

• Tracking the elegant Italian wolf, the king of the Italian forests
• Bear watching session: in search of the endemic Marsican brown bear
• The observation of many ungulates. Deers, roe deers, wild boars, and the endemic Apennine chamois
• Endemic herpetofauna and birdwatching among forests and meadows
• Discovering Abruzzo: medieval villages and food and wine tradition

If you are interested in adding a birding trip on top of this wonderful wolf and bear tour, look no further than the Birding in Italy Trip, Coastal Wetlands North of Naples 

Alternative Tour Name: Abruzzo Wildlife Tour, Italy