130925-studie-wildlife-comeback-in-europe

3.4. Southern chamois
Rupicapra pyrenaica
Summary
The Southern chamois is now increasing in distribution
and abundance across its range after recovering
from historical lows in population numbers
caused by uncontrolled hunting. Management
interventions have included a captive breeding
and introduction programme implemented in
Italy, translocations in France and establishing
hunting reserves in Spain. Whilst the outlook for
the species as a whole remains positive, continued
monitoring of disease outbreaks in France and
Spain and targeted conservation management in
Italy are key to ensuring continued success for the
Southern chamois.
Background
General description of the species
The Southern or Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra
pyrenaica) is a mountain ungulate which occurs
as three subspecies in southwest Europe [1] . It is
one of two species in the Rupicapra genus which
spread to Europe from Asia in the middle Pleistocene,
and it was during this period that the
Southern chamois is thought to have diverged
from older ancestors in western Europe to occupy
its current distribution through adaptation to
warmer climates [2] .
Distribution in Europe
Since the last glaciation, the Southern chamois
occupied a large part of the Iberian Peninsula [3] .
During the Holocene, with a milder climate,
presence became scarcer, and during the last
10,000 years further adaptation to mountainous
environment, climate warming and hunting
pressure reduced its range to today’s extent [4] . In
the Holocene the Apennine chamois was found
throughout the central southern Apennines, its
range was then reduced to just the Abruzzo region,
where a population of less than 40 individuals
survived in what is now the Abruzzo, Latium and
Molise National Park [5] .
The species is currently fragmented into
three populations, which occur in the following
mountainous regions: the Cantabrian mountains
of northern Spain (Cantabrian chamois –
subspecies parva); the Pyrenees in France, Spain
and Andorra (Pyrenean chamois – subspecies
pyrenaica); and three locations in the Apennine
mountain chain in Italy (Apennine chamois –
subspecies ornata) [1] .
Habitat preferences and general densities
Adapted to high altitude, the Southern chamois is
found in rocky areas, alpine meadows and forests
according to the season. The species has adopted
an altitudinal migration strategy in response
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