Abruzzo or Appennine chamois

K

Kifaru Bwana

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
The Abruzzo or Appennine chamois Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata has been separated from the Alpine chamois R. rupicapra from the last Ice Age, a fairly recent event.

The current wild population numbers only 1,100 individuals divided over 3 sub-populations. The major stronghold remains the Abruzzo National Park. Between 1991-94 a new population was established by translocation to the Majella Massif, and a more recent reintroduction concerns the Gran Sasso National Park.

The captive population in Italy numbers ca. 18 individuals, all in re-establishment exhibits in national parks. The ex situ population is restricted to Tierpark Hellabrunn, Muenchen, BRD (2009: 1.4). The founder group (1.3) was received in 1995, all offspring are destined for a new national park, Monte Sybillini.

If you would like to visit: a visitor center has been created at Pescasseroli.
(I do remember a zoo there too).

For visitor awareness, I would not mind some Italian zoos getting involved in native species conservation for the Abruzzo chamois. :)
 
Dear K.B.
I must correct you concerning the Appennine chamois.
The taxon is not strictly related to the Alpine chamois; actually belong to a different species, pyrenaica rather than rupicapra.
Together with Iberian chamois, they are considered the most ancient member of the genus, elsewhere displaced by the younger Rupicapra rupicapra. The separation between Iberian and Italian chamois is not so recent, so ornata is considered at least an ESU. This was important because restocking with Iberian chamois was also considered 20 years ago when it was tought that Appennine chamois have been introduced in Italy for hunting by the Spanish Royal family Borbone.
 
Thanx for the comments colobus.

I do hope that at some point Italian zoos will actually invest in the Abruzzo/Appennine chamois breeding programme and some other threatened native species (bear and wolf +++ a few others in birds and reptiles/amphibians and fish).

Did not Pescasseroli used to have a zoo?
 
Amazingly many endangered European animals receive little help. There is also Tatra chamois Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica, many small-range small mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Many could benefit from zoo programmes.

Very shameful, because Europe is rich and considers itself advanced, but conservation is often so poor or non-existent as in worse kind of tropical countries.
 
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