The European version of America's beloved groundhog has returned to the Dolomites. Twenty pairs of the cuddly critters - called marmots over here - have been reintroduced into the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites, where naturalists hope they will multiply over the coming years.
"The Alpine marmot is at risk of extinction in most mountain areas and we hope this pilot scheme will spur others," said the director of the wildlife preserve, Nino Martino. "We hope to bring another 40 pairs next year". Martino explained that the marmots, captured over the last few weeks in other regions of the north, will be re-released into the wild after being tagged.
"They will be closely followed as they mate and bring up their young, hopefully staying within the confines of the Park," Marino said.
According to experts, the preserve in the mountains around the northeastern city of Belluno can contain up to 1,500 marmots.
Martino said the marmots' return would bring more tourists to the preserve - "spotting one is always a joy for visitors, especially the younger ones" - and would help re-balance the fauna present. The creatures - which are also known as woodchucks in the United States - feed on specific kinds of vegetation which have been threatening to overrun the park, Martino said. Although it may not please the kiddies too much, the marmots are also a natural prey of the golden eagle, whose numbers are dwindling in the park.
"We have eight pairs of golden eagles. At the moment all they have to feed on are hares, small buck and deer, certain kinds of woodfowl and snakes. The marmot will make sure their future is not jeopardised". If the marmot reintroduction project goes well, Martino said, "it should be the right time to start thinking about reintroducing the ibex".
The ibex, also known as the steinbeck or more simply rock-goat, was once one of the most characteristic sights of this area of the eastern Dolomites. Italy is redoubling its efforts to get animals back into the wild or keep them from dying out.
The osprey has just been re-introduced into the Maremma National Park north of Rome, while bear populations in Abruzzo have been boosted.
