Abruzzo National Park faces legal ruling and mitigation efforts over bear encounters

The Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park is facing both legal and preventative challenges regarding the management of the Marsican brown bear.

A court in Avezzano has ordered the Park to pay over 184,000 euros—totaling more than 200,000 euros with interest and costs—to a family in Villavallelonga. The ruling stems from a 2017 incident where a bear, identified as M19, entered the family's home while they were inside. The judge ruled that the Park was liable because it deployed only two operators instead of the four required by protocol for managing problematic bears. The compensation covers psychological damages and permanent health consequences for the two parents and two children involved.

In a separate effort to mitigate human-wildlife conflict, volunteers in Villetta Barrea have been collecting fallen fruit from trees. This initiative, part of the LIFE Bear-Smart Corridors project, aims to reduce food sources that attract bears into populated areas. The collected apples are being donated to the National Park to feed bears at the Visitor Center, helping to maintain a balance between wildlife conservation and community safety.