Italy isn’t just about ancient Rome and delicious pasta. Picture this: you’re walking through a misty mountain path when suddenly a majestic golden eagle soars overhead. That’s just the beginning of Italy’s incredible wildlife adventure waiting for you.
Italy is a biodiversity hot spot that’s home to more animal species than any other European country. Impressively, a third of the continent’s fauna is represented in Italy. Italy has the highest level of faunal biodiversity in Europe, with over 57,000 species recorded, representing more than a third of all European fauna. This amazing diversity comes from Italy’s unique position as a bridge between different continents and its incredible variety of landscapes, from the snowy Alps to Mediterranean coastlines.
10. Spectacled Salamander
The spectacled salamander is endemic to Italy, only found in the southern Apennine Range. It lives in humid valleys and shady overgrown hillsides at altitudes between 200-1200 m. They’re are found most often near streams, in dense vegetation, or under leaf litter, stones, and dead wood. This little salamander is only 7-11 cm (2.7-4.3 in) long and has a warty brown/black back with white/red marks on its tail, legs and a V-shaped mark on its head. Think of it as Italy’s tiny dragon, complete with warning colors that make it look like it’s wearing spectacles. This reptile is very important because it is an efficient indicator species of environmental health. The spectacled salamander usually lives near streams, hidden under dead wood, stones, or leaf litter, and raises its tail and legs as a warning when threatened.
9. Sardinian Long-Eared Bat
The Sardinian long-eared bat has only recently been identified and classified as its own species. Although closely related to other bats, they have entirely different genetics. Typically to bat behaviour, they are nocturnal, living in colonies in the caves and woodlands, and use echo location to catch their prey. These fascinating creatures are like Italy’s tiny superheroes, zooming through the night sky using their natural sonar system. Unique mammals include the Corsican hare, the Sardinian long-eared bat, the Apennine shrew, the Udine shrew the Calabria pine vole, and the Sardinian deer. While you might not think bats are “cool,” these little guys are absolutely essential for controlling insect populations, making them unsung heroes of Italian ecosystems.
8. Chamois
The chamois is a species of goat-antelope that’s native to the mountains in Europe. In Italy, they’re found in the Apennines. It’s a pretty small animal for being a bovid. They can reach a height of 80 cm (31 in), length of 137 cm (54 in), and weight of 45 kg (99 lb). They have a brown colored fur during summer that turns light grey in winter. Both the females and males have these characteristic horns. The chamois is a fast animal that can easily escape predators. It can run as fast as 50 km per hour (31 mph) and leap as far as 6 m (19.6 ft) horizontally. “The Pyrenean Chamois was almost completely extinct at the end of the 1800s, but the species now has a healthy population of an estimated 25,000,” Staffan Widstrand of Wild Wonders of Europe explains.
7. Alpine Ibex
Ibex are a popular subject for viral videos as their gravity defying moves cause amazement amongst viewers, jump over an astonishing 2 metres. The wild goats of Italy live in herds, on mountains or areas with steep cliffs. They can live in these locations as their hooves are formed in a shape which sucks them to the ground, making them comfortable and agile. Their chosen habitat may seem odd to us, but the Ibex live there as their main predators find it difficult to hunt on the terrain. At Gran Paradiso National Park near Aosta Valley, visitors can explore alpine lakes and meadows filled with wildlife, such as ibex and chamois. These animals are basically the rock climbers of the animal world, making impossible cliff faces look like a walk in the park. Imagine seeing a whole herd of these incredible creatures balancing on a nearly vertical rock face – it’s a sight that’ll make you question the laws of physics!
6. Sardinian Red Deer
The Corsican red deer, also known as the Sardinian deer or the Corsican deer, is a species of deer endemic to the Italian island of Sardinia. The Sardinian deer, also known as the Corsican deer, is a subspecies of the red deer and can be found across most of the island. The antlers of the deer are slightly smaller than that of a typical red deer and they typically can grow up to 80cm in length. From August to November it is mating season and you could potentially see the male deer battle it out to win over the mature females. Typically there are a dozen female deer per male. The National Park of Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise is one of the richest Italian parks for wildlife, and the small Abruzzo town of Villetta Barrea within it has been renamed “The Village among the Deer”. Here the deer in search of food enters the green areas of the village and you can often see them walking on the roadside or peeping into the gardens of the houses.
5. Bottlenose Dolphins
Carlucci describes it as a complex puzzle, revealing a stable dolphin population including species like spinners, bottlenose, common dolphins, and even rare cetaceans like the Cuvier’s beaked whale. Bottlenose dolphins are seen by many as the stars of the sea with their charisma and intelligence charming people from all over the world. Their curved mouths give the appearance of boasting a permanent smile and dolphins can often be seen breaching the water as they play. Unique genetic features identified in the gulf’s striped dolphins suggest continuity with the ancient dolphins seen by the Greeks. A key to this thriving marine life lies in the Taranto Valley, a submarine canyon fostering a nutrient-rich environment. This underwater haven supports a food chain that sustains a diverse array of marine creatures, essential for the dolphins’ diet. These playful marine mammals are like the comedians of the sea, often putting on spontaneous shows for lucky boat passengers along Italy’s extensive coastline.
4. Italian Wolf
The gray wolf of the Apennines (Canis lupus italicus) is Italy’s national animal due to the legend of the founding of Rome that told of how two brothers, Romulus and Remus, after being raised by a she-wolf, founded the city. The Apennine gray wolf or Italian wolf is a subspecies of the gray wolf indigenous to the Italian peninsula. Thanks to some conservationist policies adopted in recent decades, the population of the Italian wolf has increased from 300 individuals in 1968, to over 2500 in 2020. In Italy, the wolf permanently occupies an area of about 74,000 km², from the Gran Paradiso National Park in the north to Aspromonte in the south, including the Gargano. The grey wolves also stay in the Italian mountains, living in packs of around 10-15, which is much smaller than European wolves. They’re nocturnal and usually hunt deer or wild boars. The protected animals are an amazing site to see, majestic and encaptivating.
3. Marsican Brown Bear
Classified as critically endangered, the Marsican brown bear is one of the rarest bears on the planet. It inhabits the Abruzzo National Park and some surrounding areas, though the population has dropped significantly over the last couple of centuries and is now thought to stand at around just 40 to 50 bears. Italy’s indigenous bear is the big but temperamentally calm, berry and insect eating “orso bruno marsicano” – the Marsican brown bear. Despite showing no agressive behaviour to us humans, this big nocturnal softie with large hands and poor eye sight, is now, because of us, a critically endangered species. Where once hundreds roamed Italy’s mountainous areas, now less than 50 – and dwindling – live in one location. In the protection of the Abruzzo National Park. Which is why, this large brown bear is also more widely known as the Abruzzo brown bear. These gentle giants are like Italy’s teddy bears come to life, but sadly they’re fighting for survival in their mountain stronghold.
2. Eurasian Lynx
The elusive and wild cat of Italy is probably the most impressive wildlife sighting you may see on your holiday. Claimed to be extinct for almost 100 years, the stunning lynx was spotted in Italy in 2000; it was breaking news at the time as many enthusiasts celebrated the finding. The two most successful projects have remained the Slovenian and Swiss ones, thanks to which two lynx populations have been established: one in the Dinaric mountains and in the South-Eastern Alps and one in the North-Western Alps. In Italy, there are some specimens in the Alps (10-15 in 2007) and other very few specimens in Friuli – Venezia Giulia and Trentino. In Italy and in the Alps, between the last decade of the XX century and the first of the XXI century, the Eastern Alps have been interested in a natural phenomenon of recolonization by specimens probably coming from the Slovenian and Swiss populations. Sporadically some individuals have been reported also in Lombardy, Aosta Valley, and Piedmont, probably coming from Switzerland. This ghostly feline is like Italy’s phantom, silently prowling through alpine forests with tufted ears and spotted coat.
1. Greater Flamingo
Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia, is the only place in Italy where flamingos nest in a stable way and can be seen mainly near the pond of Molentargius and that of Santa Gilla. The best period is the first weeks of June when these beautiful animals s The San Teodoro lagoon is home to the famous pink flamingos of Sardinia, which is regarded as one of the greatest natural treasures of the island because of its significance to wildlife. These spectacular birds in the 1940s had an estimated population of 800-1,200 across Sardinia, but this population drastically dropped by over 80%. When we visited Sardinia we did not expect to see Pink Flamingos! We were lucky enough to see hundreds of them just 20 minutes from Cagliari. We found these guys by chance on our way to Tuerredda Beach and Spiaggia di Cala Cipolla and we stopped in on our way back to the hotel in Cagliari and spent around 20 or 30 minutes just watching them. These elegant pink birds are like living brushstrokes painted across Italy’s coastal lagoons, creating scenes so beautiful they seem almost surreal.
Conclusion
Italy’s wildlife is absolutely stunning, from tiny salamanders hiding under rocks to majestic bears roaming mountain forests. Italian officials keep an eye on conservation, and the country supports 20 national parks and 130 regional parks. Additionally, lawmakers have carved out 150 federally protected wildlife territories, 270 state ones, and 16 marine reserves. Each creature tells a story of survival, adaptation, and the delicate balance of nature that makes Italy so special. Whether you’re exploring the Alps, wandering through Tuscan hills, or lounging on Sardinian beaches, keep your eyes open – you never know which incredible animal might cross your path. The next time someone asks you about Italy, you can tell them it’s not just about art and architecture – it’s a living, breathing wildlife wonderland that’ll leave you speechless. Did you expect Italy to be home to such incredible biodiversity?
As a little kid, I fell in love with nature, wildlife, and animals. Living in the USA, South Africa, Italy, China and Germany gave me the opportunity to discover the world's Wildlife. My favorite animals are Mountain Gorillas, Siberian Tigers, and Great White Sharks.
I'm a certified PADI Open Water Diver, went to Everest Base Camp and Trekked Gorillas in Uganda. I hold a Master of Science in Economics and Finance.
Please send any feedback to feedback@animalsaroundtheglobe.com
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