Maiella National Park

Wildlife

The park's altitude, inaccessibility and prominence have kept most of its territories uninhabited, with fewer human-made structures such as skiing resorts and roads than other Italian national parks. This condition has favored Apennine wildlife. The Italian wolf, present in the park's logo, has an estimated population of 100 wolves distributed in eleven packs across the main mountain ranges; GPS-collars are applied to 17 wolves for ongoing monitoring. The wolf population density is believed to be one of the highest in Italy and in the world, even compared to Yellowstone National Park. The Abruzzo chamois was reintroduced during 1991 after decades of absence, through a repopulation program by Abruzzo national park authorities. The Marsican brown bear is regularly present in the beech forests, with an estimated 20 individuals. Six breeding couples of golden eagle are found. Amphibians and reptiles include the spectacled salamander, the yellow-billed toad, and the unique Orsini's viper. Bird species breeding inside the park include goshawk, buzzard, rock partridge, alpine and red-billed chough, peregrine falcon, and sparrow hawk. Other mammals in the dense forests are wild boar, Corsican hare, European pine marten, European wildcat, red fox, European badger, and the rare European otter.