A delegation from the esteemed U.S. organization “People & Carnivores” is visiting the Central Apennines. Since 1992, this organization has worked to promote coexistence between rural communities in North America and large carnivores such as black bears, grizzly bears, wolves, and mountain lions. The purpose of this visit is to engage in constructive dialogue with the international organization to evaluate and exchange best practices, with the aim of improving human-bear coexistence strategies in the Central Apennines.

In 2026, Italy’s Central Apennines will become the focal point of international bear conservation, focusing on the Marsican brown bear and coexistence between people and wildlife. From September 20 to 25, Pescasseroli will host two significant gatherings: the International Conference of the IBA – International Association for Bear Research and Management – and the final conference of the LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors initiative.

An event to celebrate together the commitment of communities, associations, and local authorities in promoting long-term coexistence between humans and bears

Salviamo l’Orso and Rewilding Apennines urgently call on the relevant authorities and municipalities to secure the hazardous situations identified and described in the reports sent to them in recent days.

In the Bear-Smart Communities of the Central Apennines, an educational initiative has begun to raise awareness among children and teenagers about human-bear coexistence.

In Pettorano sul Gizio, the Bear Smart Community Genzana will be able to boast of having a unique, original place that is able to connect natural and human history in a permanent exhibition that will surprise everyone!

In recent days, the staff and volunteers of Rewilding Apennines and Salviamo l’Orso, during some monitoring and control activities carried out together with the Carabinieri Forestali and the Surveillance Service of the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park, have found a total of the carcasses of nine wolves, five Griffon vultures and two Common ravens, all of whom died of poisoning.

There is no end to the indignation at the discovery of wild animals that have most likely been poisoned by real criminals.

When nature inspires our lives, stories of coexistence, both physical and mental, can born.

Bad blow to coexistence: carcasses of poisoned wild animals found in one of ecological corridors in Central Apennines