IMAGES: AWL IMAGES; SHUTTERSTOCK


In February of this year, a male brown bear known as M90 was controversially shot dead by forestry police in the Northern Italian province of Trentino. According to reports, the animal sealed its own fate by showing “excessive confidence” around humans. In April 2023, the same Alpine region witnessed a fatal attack on a jogger, who had the misfortune to startle a female bear with cubs. It’s a situation that’s seen emotions run high. Europe’s largest mountain


range stretches into eight countries and is home to some 14 million people, with countless towns and villages and more than 8,000 ski lifts — but it’s far from being a predominantly human domain. Across the continent, only the Mediterranean region can rival the Alps’ variety of flora and fauna. Endemic mountain plants abound, forests cloak remote hillsides and the thousands of animal species that fly, swim and forage here include some of Europe’s most charismatic predators. The problem? Wild carnivores, awe- inspiring though they might be, are not universally popular. Centuries ago, much larger


populations of wolves, lynxes, brown bears and vultures roamed the Alps, living there as they’d done for millennia. Paw prints peppered the mountain pastures. Howls echoed through moonlit valleys. Over time, however, a depressingly familiar pattern of persecution and habitat loss decimated their populations. Some survived and remained — albeit in far smaller, more fragmented numbers. Over the last two to three


decades, conservation and rewilding initiatives have focused on protecting these creatures, in some cases physically reinstating them, not only for the good of the individual species, but because — as nature’s own hunters and scavengers — the animals play a key role in keeping the often delicate Alpine ecosystem in balance. The bears in the Trentino


region, which have grown in number from 10 to around 100 after being reintroduced from Slovenia in the early 2000s, aren’t just a furry nuisance. “The Alps in particular have


had very large increases in populations of red and roe deer,” explains Fabien Quétier, head of landscapes at Rewilding Europe. “These densities of herbivores are a problem for natural regeneration and can cause issues like car accidents. Predators play a role in regulating that.” Indeed, when carried out


responsibly, the upsides of rewilding are substantial. “It’s like hitting the reset button on nature,” says Natalya Jarlebring of Milkywire, a European organisation that helps fund climate- and nature-based projects around the world. In other words, it helps nature fall back into balance.


Back to the wild Rewilding refers to the process of protecting an environment and returning it to its natural state, for example by bringing back wild animals that used to live there. It often also involves re-planting native flowers and trees, or dismantling fencing to allow nature room to grow. But for obvious reasons, it’s the wildlife that tends to grab the headlines. Wolves, bears and the far shyer


lynx are all known to attack farmed livestock, which adds a further complicating factor to the debate. But for Claudio Groff, who heads the Large Carnivores Division of Trentino’s Wildlife Department, it’s important to retain a wider sense of perspective. “A very low percentage of the bears in Trentino can be problematic to humans,” he says. “That’s usually only around 5% to 10% of the population, the same for bears found anywhere in Europe.” Vigilance is key. He explains


that his department’s official policy towards ‘problem bears’ has three stages: first is to have conversations within the community; second is to


In these fast-moving times, rewilding can tap into something deeper — to the advantage of both the local population and visiting travellers


manage elements that might attract wandering bears, such as open bins; and third is to deter over-assertive animals from approaching human settlements, by using dogs or rubber bullets. “If none of these steps work, the absolute final option is to shoot the bear,” he says. The culling of M90 was a last resort. “We’re never happy when we have to do this.” He also points out that, in


spite of recent incidents, a substantial number of locals remain supportive and proud of the bears’ resettlement. “A lot of people in Trentino are still happy that we have these wonderful animals in our region, despite the difficulties,” he says. “We also have to remember that bears were here in the Alps before we were. It’s their home as well.” Questions of perspective and education come up regularly


where rewilding is concerned. Many more people are harmed in the Alps each year by cattle than they are by carnivores — “a cow is also a dangerous animal,” points out Quétier — and the instincts of the vast majority of predators mean that they’re mainly nocturnal and actively avoid humans. In the absence of an over-


arching Alpine regulatory body for nature recovery, the success of rewilding schemes — whether in Trentino or elsewhere — is dependent on effective local management. “It’s important to involve local communities from the outset,” emphasises Jarlebring. “This means listening to their concerns, addressing their needs, educating them about the benefits of rewilding, building trust and fostering a sense of ownership.”


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