Birds, bears and wolves: the Majella National Park has them all – and more !  It’s a natural Abruzzo treasure for you to explore during your Villasfor2 vacation.

In our opening stroll through the Majella National Park, we had a look at some of the birdlife you could come across. For many though, the true excitement of the Majella - and the whole essence of natural Abruzzo - isn't in the air, but on the ground in the shape of bears and wolves.

The wolf is the symbol of the Majella. Hunted for centuries and the subject of more myth and folklore than any other animal in the Park, the wolf now enjoys protected status.

You're most likely to hear a wolf baying in the late winter/early spring and a pawprint in snow or mud - or even the remains of its prey (usually wild boars or deer) can make you aware of its presence. But  an actual sighting is down to chance - a fleeting glimpse of a wolf through trees is just as likely as seeing one strolling across a forest path in broad daylight.  

The Marsican Brown Bear is even more elusive. About fifty are thought to range across Abruzzo's three great National Parks, with around a dozen in the Majella. Sad to report, these beautiful animals are still persecuted and two have been shot and killed by poachers in the Gran Sasso National Park in recent months.

The Museo dell'Orso in Palena - about a 35-minute drive from Villasfor2 - provides an excellent introduction to the Marsican Bear and by arrangement you can also go on hikes along known bear trails in the area.

The Museum's opening times are variable. Its contact details are on its website and it's advisable to plan ahead.

The bear and the wolf are creatures of the forest. Not so the Abruzzo Chamois, which inhabits the Majella's mountain areas. Hunted to extinction in the area early in the 19th century, the chamois was reintroduced to the Majella at around the time it achieved National Park status in 1995 and has since thrived. 

You're likeliest to get a sighting of chamois in areas of shrubby scree that provide grazing - and you're likely to get a sighting of their incredible agility if you get what they consider to be too close ! 

But if it's close sightings you're after, make for the Paolo Barrasso Centre in Caramanico Terme at the very heart of the Majella National Park.

Here, in addition to a natural history museum, you'll also find  a specially-created habitat for one of the Park's most captivating animals - the otter. The Centre runs occasional twilight viewing walks throughout the year. Check when they're scheduled by first calling (+39) 085 922343.

You won't find any of these animals outside the Majella. But there's one you will. The wild boar, or cinghiale. Inside the Parks, it's the chief prey animal of the wolf - some estimates reckon wild boars make-up 70% of wolf kills. Outside the Parks, the boar is hunted - legally - also as a source of food.

They're widespread throughout the region and though not often seen unless deliberately flushed-out by hunters, you can often spot a wild boar's passage through woodland and forest. It's not the most careful of travellers or feeders and leaves a wide and obvious tell-tale track.

We're incredibly lucky to have such a wonderful natural Abruzzo resource as the Majella National Park so close-by. There are numerous well-run visitor centres circling the Park - our nearest are close-by at Fara San Martino and Guardiagrele - where you'll find a fantastic range of free guides and brochures and expert help to you enjoy the Park to the full.

To whet your appetite, the Majella National Park has its own excellent website in English, French and German in addition to Italian. Incidentally - don't skip the Intro, it has some great animation and sound effects !

bears, chamois, Majella National Park, natural Abruzzo, otters, Villasfor2, wild boars, wolves

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 24th, 2008 at 6:15 am and is filed under Mountains and Forests, Sightseeing, Where To Go, About Abruzzo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.