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ROME, december 29, 2025 – Unlike most large animals that flee human encroachment, a small population of brown bears in central Italy has evolved a surprisingly gentle disposition, a new study reveals. This remarkable adaptation offers a rare glimpse into how coexistence can reshape the very biology of a predator species.
A History of Peaceful coexistence
For centuries, the Apennine brown bear has adapted to living alongside humans, resulting in a unique subspecies known for its docile behavior.
- The Apennine brown bear (ursus arctos marsicanus) diverged from other European brown bears roughly 2,000 to 3,000 years ago, coinciding with human expansion.
- Aggressive bears were historically targeted by humans, while those avoiding conflict were more likely to survive and reproduce.
- This selective pressure has led to genetic changes that promote less aggressive behavior in the Apennine bear population.
- With fewer than 60 individuals remaining, the bears face a precarious future due to genetic erosion.
The Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) is a unique subspecies that began to diverge from other European brown bear populations approximately 2,000 to 3,000 years ago-a period that also marked the meaningful expansion of human settlements in the region. Researchers believe this divergence wasn’t driven by geographical isolation, but by a unique form of natural selection imposed by humans.
As an inevitable result, Apennine bears have developed a surprisingly “friendly” reputation. Despite living in proximity to human settlements, serious attacks by these bears are exceptionally rare-a stark contrast to the increasing instances of bear-human conflict observed in northern Italy and Greece.
A Fragile Peace
However, this peaceful coexistence comes at a significant cost. The bears’ isolation and dwindling population-currently fewer than 60 individuals-have led to genetic erosion, with the accumulation of harmful mutations pushing them toward the brink of extinction.
Conservationists are now grappling with a difficult dilemma. While introducing bears from other regions could bolster genetic diversity, it also risks diluting the valuable “gentle” trait that has allowed the Apennine bears to coexist with humans, perhaps leading to renewed conflict.
The story of these uniquely docile bears serves as a powerful reminder of the profound and frequently enough unexpected ways in which humans
