# Italian red deer conservation project

> Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italian-red-deer-conservation-project
> Updated: 2026-10-31T01:25:26.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2.

The conservation program known as ‘Operazione Cervo Italico’ has reached its fourth translocation phase. Between October 22 and 25, 2026, seventeen specimens of the endemic Italian red deer subspecies, Cervus elaphus italicus, were transferred from the Bosco della Mesola State Nature Reserve in Ferrara to the Parco Naturale Regionale delle Serre in Calabria.

The group, comprising 11 females and 6 males, traveled approximately one thousand kilometers to establish a second stable population. This initiative, launched in 2023, aims to mitigate extinction risks caused by geographic isolation, epidemics, fires, or climate change. The project is a collaborative effort involving the Calabria Region, WWF Italia, the University of Siena, Dream Italia, the Carabinieri Biodiversity Group, and other regional partners.

Early indicators of the project's success include 12 births recorded in the Parco delle Serre since its inception, suggesting the new population is adapting to the environment.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-31: Italian red deer subspecies transferred to Calabria to prevent extinction

Seventeen endemic Italian red deer were relocated from Emilia-Romagna to Calabria to establish a new population and prevent the subspecies from extinction.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-red-deer-subspecies-transferred-to-calabria-to-prevent-extinction

### 2026-10-27: Parco delle Serre receives 17 Italian deer to bolster biodiversity

Seventeen Italian deer were relocated to Calabria's Parco delle Serre to create a second stable population and protect the rare subspecies from extinction risks.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/parco-delle-serre-receives-17-italian-deer-to-bolster-biodiversity

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Cite as: Italian red deer conservation project. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italian-red-deer-conservation-project