(Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata)

In the 1990s the presence of only one chamois population inhabiting a small area within the Abruzzi, Lazio and Molise National Park, and the fact that it was not very diversified from the genetical point of view because of the extended low-density stay, exposed this subspecies to the extinction risk in case of severe environmental changes or epidemic events.
According to these considerations both the specific Action plan for the Caprinae (written by the IUCN/SSC Caprinae Specialist Group) and the national action plan for the apennine chamois show the achievement of 1,000 specimens divided into 5 different populations as a priority measure for the conservation of this subspecies. A reintroduction program has been carried out within several Life Natura Projects: 02NAT/IT/8538 "Conservazione di Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata nell'Appennino Centrale", 97 NAT/IT/4143 "Conservazione di Rupicapra ornata nel Gran Sasso", 09NAT/IT/000183 "Development of coordinated protection measures for Apennine Chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata).
About 400 to 420 specimens live in the park at the moment.