What you see is a deer walking through the streets of Civitella Alfedena

a medieval village nestled in the heart of Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park. 🦌

It is the largest Italian ungulate mammal, widespread in the Alps and Prealps. Its characteristic is that it has a greater rate of expansion than other species, a factor that makes sightings even more frequent in the Apennine Mountains.
Until the 18th century it was widespread throughout Europe: we are talking about an area rich in forests, the ideal habitat for deer. The changes made by man for demographic and industrial reasons, combined with the growth in hunting activity, led to a significant reduction in the population. In Italy specifically, already with the improvement of firearms (between the 17th and 19th centuries), the species almost disappeared.
The subsequent protection and reintroduction measures evidently paid off as the Italian population was considered practically extinct after World War II. In 2010, about 70,000 animals were estimated and the highest density is in the Eastern Alps. Of particular interest are two species of deer present in Italy: the red deer and roe deer.

Between the months of September and October, the valleys and peaks of the Park are animated by an unusual spectacle. The deer, in the middle of their reproductive phase, give life to a natural and wild spectacle. Herds of females move quickly around the males who compete for a chance to reproduce. At dusk, the calm of the valleys is interrupted: the echo of the bellow - the sound emission with which the male deer compete with each other - is continuous. But it is not said that the challenge remains "at a distance", if necessary the males can give life to real fights! Every year the deer mating season attracts many tourists to the Park and for this reason the staff invite everyone to behave responsibly, for their own safety and that of the animals.

📽 @gabriy62 #nature
📍 Civitella Alfedena, Abruzzo, Italy
🎶 Ben Pellow - Roslyn
19 h
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