Rewilding Cervo Italico

by Luca Catalano Gonzaga

The Italian deer, once widespread across much of the peninsula, was progressively decimated due to habitat transformation and hunting, until only a few isolated individuals remained in the “Bosco della Mesola” State Nature Reserve. Thanks to protective measures introduced by the State Forestry Corps (now Carabinieri Forestali), which manages the area, this subspecies managed to escape extinction. Today, the long-term conservation of this deer population is threatened by several factors, including low population numbers and high inbreeding rates, as well as competition with the fallow deer, which, if present in large numbers, can limit access to vital resources for the Italian deer. Currently, the population counts about 300 individuals. Recent genetic studies have highlighted the value of this precious population, recognized in recent years as a unique subspecies.To ensure a future for this population, a new area suitable for reintroduction has been identified: the Serre Regional Nature Park in Calabria, where competition with other wild ungulates is minimal. The goal is to introduce a sufficient number of individuals to ensure the long-term survival of the population. Launched in 2023 by WWF (World Wildlife Fund), the repopulation project is carried out in collaboration with the Serre Park, Carabinieri Forestali, the Calabria Region, the University of Siena, and Dream Italia, aiming to preserve and strengthen this unique species. This reportage, part of a larger project called Wildlife and Community Survival, is promoted by Witness Image, funded by the Nando and Elsa Peretti Foundation, and supported by WWF Italy. (text by Luca Catalano Gonzaga).

  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A recently captured and sedated doe, awaiting transport to the base camp in preparation for relocation to the Serre Regional Natural Park in Calabria. The Italian deer, once widespread throughout the peninsula, has been progressively decimated due to habitat transformation and hunting. Today, only a few isolated individuals survive in the Mesola lowland forest.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Mirco Piccin, 54 years old, chief operator of the capture team for the Provincial Police of Belluno, has just struck a doe with an anesthetic dart. The expected induction time is approximately 7 minutes.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. The doe was captured using a “cascade” net. A net hundreds of meters long was spread out, supported by poles. The operators use megaphones and noises to guide the deer toward the net, directing them in the right direction.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A doe is guided through a series of crates toward the compartment of a specialized animal transport truck, headed for the Serre Regional Natural Park in Calabria. All transported animals are equipped with GPS collars, allowing for the monitoring of their survival, movements, and adaptation to the new environment.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A doe is weighed to create a detailed record of her biometric measurements before being transferred to the Regional Natural Park of the Serre, in Calabria. This information is essential for monitoring the deer once she arrives at her new destination.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Scale used for weighing a deer.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. The antlers of the stag are trimmed before being placed in transport cages to prevent potential self-inflicted injuries during the journey.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Oxygen tank used during sedation to support the deer’s breathing.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Preparing the nets for transporting the freshly tranquilized deer to the vans heading to the base camp.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. The Provincial Police of Belluno prepares for the deer capture.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Mirco Piccin, 54 years old, head operator of the Belluno Provincial Police capture team, checks for the presence of deer.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Preparation of cascade nets, set up for hundreds of meters along the forest, intended for deer capture.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A recently captured doe, partially sedated, with a cover placed over her eyes to prevent visual stress caused by the presence of humans.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Jager, a three-year-old Bavarian Hound, is following the trail of a deer that has been shot with a tranquilizer dart. The anesthetic works gradually, inducing full sleep after about seven minutes, to prevent trauma to the animal.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. The Mesola Forest, covering about 1,000 hectares, is a rich and diverse environment, characterized by dense vegetation and a network of waterways and ponds. These water bodies not only enrich the ecosystem but also represent a vital resource for the deer that inhabit the area.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Mesola Forest offers a unique and ideal habitat for deer, thanks to its particular ecological features. This area is dominated by holm oak trees, which provide shelter and shade, creating a cool and humid environment essential for the animals’ survival. The vegetation is diverse, also including tamarisks and shrubs typical of Mediterranean forests, which offer nourishment and refuge.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Dario De Martin, 57 years old, from the Carabinieri Biodiversity Department of Tarvisio, is involved in the search for deer.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A doe wakes up after receiving an antidote to the tranquilizer dart, as she was in the lactation phase. Mothers with offspring are not transported.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Mirco Piccin, 54 years old, head operator of the Belluno Provincial Police capture team, aims with his rifle to launch tranquilizer darts. The maximum distance must remain within 30 meters to prevent shots in areas that could pose a risk to the deer’s safety.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A gas-powered dart gun is a device designed to administer anesthetics or medications from a distance, using syringes loaded with the medicine. It operates through a gas system, allowing the syringes to be shot with precision and control. This tool is commonly used in animal capture and sedation situations, as it helps reduce direct contact and stress for the animal.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Darts for tele-anesthesia, with an induction time of about 7 minutes.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Roberto Costantin, 30 years old, veterinarian from AULSS. 1 Dolomiti, uses a monocular rangefinder to assess the distance from the deer.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Marco Corona, 52 years old, and Lisa Azzalini, 46 years old, both head instructors of the Belluno Provincial Police capture team, have just spotted a deer and are preparing to launch a tranquilizer dart.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Crossing a stream while searching for a freshly tranquilized deer.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Captured and tranquilized doe. The Italian deer, once widespread across the entire peninsula, has been gradually decimated by habitat transformation and hunting, leaving only a few isolated individuals in the Mesola plain forest.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Lisa Azzalini, 46 years old, head instructor of the Belluno Provincial Police capture team, waits for the arrival of operators and veterinarians for the transport of a tranquilized female deer.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Transporting a tranquilized doe to the base camp for biometric measurements before departure to the Regional Natural Park of the Serre, in Calabria.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A sleeping deer is loaded onto an off-road vehicle to be transferred to the base camp. A muzzle cover is applied to prevent eye trauma due to the close presence of humans.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Loading a tranquilized doe onto an off-road vehicle; the deer can weigh up to 75 kg.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Transport of a doe towards the base camp, constantly monitored by a veterinarian to ensure her well-being and safety during the journey.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A doe is being transported to a designated area to perform biometric measurements.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Martina Calosi, 30 years old, PhD student at the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Siena (Unisi), tries to restrain a doe that has woken up earlier than expected during the biometric measurements.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. The veterinarian provides all the necessary care to prepare the deer for transport to the Regional Natural Park of the Serre, in Calabria.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A recently awakened doe is placed in a crate to be temporarily transported to a stable before the journey to Calabria. To protect her eyesight from potential trauma, a muzzle cover is applied, considering the close presence of humans.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. GPS collar for monitoring the deer after release. Translocated deer are subject to intensive monitoring using satellite collars, which allow for tracking movements, survival rates, reproduction, and potential causes of mortality. The collars are equipped with features that allow them to automatically detach after a certain period, typically due to battery depletion or programmed release mechanisms.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Muzzle cover on the deer to prevent eye trauma, due to the close presence of humans.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Marking clamp used for deer monitoring.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Preparation of darts with anesthetic.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. A doe inside a crate, ready to be transferred to the specialized vehicle of the Carabinieri Forestali, destined for the Serre Regional Natural Park in Calabria.
  • Mesola Forest, Ferrara, Italy. Gathering of deer at the first light of dawn. The Italian deer is a native species, distinct from other European populations of red deer. Deer are social animals that live in herds, especially females with their young. Males, on the other hand, tend to be more solitary, particularly during the mating season (rut), which occurs in autumn.