"ORNATA - The world's most beautiful chamois."

This was the uncompromising way in which the Apennine chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata), a distinct subspecies of the Pyrenean one, was described at the beginning of the 20th century from the mountains of the Abruzzi National Park in Central Italy, where, miraculously, it had escaped extinction.

Very little was known about the life and behaviour of this symbol of Apennine wild nature, perfectly adapted to living in a world of sheer rock walls and steep slopes, and able to survive both the capriciousness of the mountain climate and ambushes of bears, wolves and eagles. At least this was the case until the ethologist Sandro Lovari undertook his first fundamental studies in the early 70s.

Almost forty years have passed since these researches took place and in the meanwhile more has been discovered about the biology of the chamois. Scientists stressed the importance of a specific plant association for the development of the young animals in summer; while, safe wintering grounds allow a good survival of the chamois during the bad season.

In order to ensure the future of this subspecies and compensate the low genetic diversity of the main population, in the early 90s several individuals have been moved from their place of birth in the Abruzzi National Park toward other protected areas in the Apennines, where this species was once living. Nowadays, the Apennine chamois is present with a population of about 1000 individuals over an area ranging from the Sibillini Mountains in the north down to the Mainarde range in the south. New kind of habitats have been colonized, new challenges have been faced.

Now more than ever, the compelling and positive story of the Apennine chamois is a powerful example of what science, management and politics can do together in order to preserve the unique Apennine ecosystem.

"ORNATA - The world's most beautiful chamois."

This was the uncompromising way in which the Apennine chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata), a distinct subspecies of the Pyrenean one, was described at the beginning of the 20th century from the mountains of the Abruzzi National Park in Central Italy, where, miraculously, it had escaped extinction.

Very little was known about the life and behaviour of this symbol of Apennine wild nature, perfectly adapted to living in a world of sheer rock walls and steep slopes, and able to survive both the capriciousness of the mountain climate and ambushes of bears, wolves and eagles. At least this was the case until the ethologist Sandro Lovari undertook his first fundamental studies in the early 70s.

Almost forty years have passed since these researches took place and in the meanwhile more has been discovered about the biology of the chamois. Scientists stressed the importance of a specific plant association for the development of the young animals in summer; while, safe wintering grounds allow a good survival of the chamois during the bad season.

In order to ensure the future of this subspecies and compensate the low genetic diversity of the main population, in the early 90s several individuals have been moved from their place of birth in the Abruzzi National Park toward other protected areas in the Apennines, where this species was once living. Nowadays, the Apennine chamois is present with a population of about 1000 individuals over an area ranging from the Sibillini Mountains in the north down to the Mainarde range in the south. New kind of habitats have been colonized, new challenges have been faced.

Now more than ever, the compelling and positive story of the Apennine chamois is a powerful example of what science, management and politics can do together in order to preserve the unique Apennine ecosystem.