Marsican Brown Bear
Encyclopedia
The Marsican Brown Bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus), also known as Apennine brown bear, is a highly threatened, unrecognized subspecies
of the Brown bear
, with a range restricted to Abruzzo National Park and perhaps the Montagne del Morrone
in Italy
. The population of the subspecies is estimated at between 30 and 40 bears.
On average, the males weigh from 95 to 130 kg (209.4 to 286.6 lb) and reach a standing height of 1.8–1.9 m (5.9–6.2 ft).
Threats to the remaining small population include the shift from local agriculture to development in Abruzzo (including a controversial proposed ski resort
), along with poaching, and poisoning.
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of the Brown bear
Brown Bear
The brown bear is a large bear distributed across much of northern Eurasia and North America. It can weigh from and its largest subspecies, the Kodiak Bear, rivals the polar bear as the largest member of the bear family and as the largest land-based predator.There are several recognized...
, with a range restricted to Abruzzo National Park and perhaps the Montagne del Morrone
Montagne del Morrone
The Montagne del Morrone are a mountain group in Abruzzo, central Italy, part of the Apennines. Overlooking the town of Sulmona, they are bounded by the Valle Peligna, the river Aterno and the Majella massif...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. The population of the subspecies is estimated at between 30 and 40 bears.
On average, the males weigh from 95 to 130 kg (209.4 to 286.6 lb) and reach a standing height of 1.8–1.9 m (5.9–6.2 ft).
Threats to the remaining small population include the shift from local agriculture to development in Abruzzo (including a controversial proposed ski resort
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
), along with poaching, and poisoning.