Wolves and Humans |
The Upper Arroscia Valley, Liguria: |
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IN SEARCH OF THE HOWL OF THE WOLF : LIGURIA, ITALY
'Alla ricerca dell'ululato del lupo'
by Dr. Robert Howie Smith (with Felix)
In association with
The Wolves and Humans Foundation
The Wolves and Humans Foundation is a UK based charity
dedicated to the conservation of Europe’s large carnivores
wolves, bears and lynx.
Introduction.
Liguria is in the North-West of Italy, situated along the Mediterranean coastline of the Italian Riviera, with Genoa as its capital. This study focuses on the region west of Genoa, following the Upper Arroscia valley from the Plains near Albenga to the foothills of the Alps and the Alpine peaks that rise beyond; heights of 1000-2500 metres (approximately).
Wolves in Liguria were once in decline, like much of Europe, and over a decade ago the population was thought to be around 50 individuals, though, with the wolf now nationally protected, around 2015 local reports suggested this number had risen to approximately 200. This land houses farming communities, small villages between stone-walled terraces of olive groves stretching to the steep hills and dense woodlands of ancient hunting territory; a mountain wilderness where the prey of wild boar, red and roe deer are prevalent.
Dr. Robert Howie Smith (PhD, MA) has spent over 20 years studying wolves, travelling extensively in the mountain regions of Northern Spain, and exploring many mountainous areas in Northern America, following the notion of the wolf across states since the reintroduction programes in the mid-90s. As a researcher, his main interests have been toward the myths and the legends; stories told across time, where the wolf was once portrayed postively though more often quite negatively. As an artist he has produced exhibitions to promote conservation concerns, often utilising the wolf as symbol for oppression and relating aspects of wolf society with his concerns for oppression in human society. As a Journeyman and a photographer, he has tracked wildlife in the natural environment, applying his knowledge of nature to his experiences in the wild, where it is his intention to explore this Ligurian landscape to better understand the wolf, the tales that surround it and the observations he seeks to fulfill as he searches for the 'howl of the wolf' and its presence in Liguria.
This study is intended to acknowledge the Ligurian history of the wolf and research the stories that relate to the wolf in the region, whilst collating information and sightings to try to understand the wolf's movements, to finally evidence wolf packs in Liguria and where they may be residing in these adventurous mountains, to hopefully confirm this rising population.
follow on Instagram @wolf_liguria
Lupi in Italia.
Links to conservation of the wolf, wolves and wildlife and rewilding projects in Italy.
The Central Apennines - The Wild Heart of Italy - https://rewilding-apennines.com/
Salviamo l’Orso - working to save the Marsican brown bear from extinction
https://www.salviamolorso.it/en/
Ente Parco Nazionale d'Abruzzo Lazio e Molise
http://www.parcoabruzzo.it/Eindex.php
Restoring Italy's Wild Heart - A film by Olly Pemberton - https://youtu.be/-bTOuwlcTdo
Paolo Rossi Wolves Photographer - http://www.paorossi.it/
Dove l’uomo non è più sovrano - Where man is no longer sovereign
https://www.produzionidalbasso.com/project/dove-l-uomo-non-e-piu-sovrano/
Rewilding Europe /Italy - https://rewildingeurope.com/tag/italy/
Lo non ho paura del lupo - I'm not afraid of the wolf - https://www.iononhopauradellupo.it/
LIFE WolfAlps EU /Italian Alps - https://www.lifewolfalps.eu/en/project-area/alpi-italiane/
Progetto Lince Italia - The Italian Lynx Project - https://www.progettolinceitalia.it/
