Wildlife Adventures is now a well-established ecotourism tour operator in Central Europe. It is a company born from a deep passion for nature and a desire to protect what is most precious to us. Like all the best stories, this one began with a dream scribbled in the pages of an empty Moleskine notebook.
Driven by passion, connected to nature
Umberto Esposito, founder and nature guide, gave shape to that vision: to create an organisation that not only brought people closer to nature, but inspired them to be part of a greater change. His passion for photography and love of the natural world, coupled with his early encounters with bears, prompted him to attend the 16^(th) IBA Conference in Italy in 2005, organised by the International Association for Bear Research and Management (IBA).
It was here that Umberto first got the chance to contribute to the storytelling of one of the most endangered species: the Marsican brown bear. The success of these brief visual snippets convinced him of the importance of taking real action to protect the natural heritage of the Apennines, through the creation of ecotourism that benefits the environment and local communities alike.
Over time, our logo has evolved to embody four elements that define us: exploration, discovery, connection and sharing the wonders of nature. These principles shape not only our past and present experiences, but also guide every future journey into the wild heart of Italy.
Il camoscio appenninico
Having miraculously escaped extinction at the beginning of the 20th century on the steep slopes of the Camosciara, it is now widespread, with two thousand individuals inhabiting the peaks of the central Apennines, representing one of the most successful nature conservation stories in Italy. The reintroduced animals on the slopes of the Majella, Gran Sasso and Monti Sibillini originated from the Abruzzo National Park. Its extraordinary coat pattern, magnificent horns and agile, elegant movements have led to this subspecies (Rupicapra pyrenaica ornata) being called the world's most beautiful chamois. This species symbolises these mountains and represents our memories of the first summits reached, the fatigue and sweat endured, and the satisfaction of our first encounters with the park's fauna.
The Tholos of Majella
The landscape of the Majella National Park area has been profoundly altered by artefacts over the centuries. The crisis in sheep farming led to the creation of these dry-stone huts, as it became essential to wrest areas suitable for cultivation from the mountains. The new cultivable areas were located further and further away from the village, and the long and laborious work of clearing the land of stones led to the need for shelter, even if only makeshift, and the need to dispose of the stones collected in the fields. As time passed, more sophisticated techniques were developed, leading to the creation of structures with specific functions. The agro-pastoral complexes were the result of this development, with designated areas used for milking, stables and housing for the whole family during the summer months. The tholos represent our connection to the traditions and way of life of the local people.
The vultures of the Velino
The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) is a large bird of prey with a wingspan of up to 280 centimetres. The species had become extinct in the central Apennines, an area that had been particularly suitable for it before the 19th century. Today, it can again be observed in the Sirente-Velino Regional Park thanks to a careful reintroduction project by the State Forestry Corps. The presence of animals such as bears and wolves in the same area is particularly important because griffon vultures feed on the animal remains left over from the hunting of these large predators. This is an area that really bodes well for our new proposals and represents an extraordinary corridor to the wide spaces of the Gran Sasso and the wild valleys of the Majella.
The arches of San Vincenzo al Volturno
For those coming from the south, the Benedictine Abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno in Molise is the gateway to the wild heart of Italy. Protected by the Mainarde mountain range to the west and the Matese massif to the south, it sits at the foot of a rugged rock formation that rises abruptly to mark the border between Molise and Lazio. In recent years, we have arrived here with our backpacks on our shoulders, taking charge of the Rifugio del Falco and the Marsican Bear Visitor Centre on the Forme plateau. The Molise sector of the park is home to stunning landscapes and charming villages where traditional ways of life endure to this day. Disruptive changes to our activities have been brought about by simple traditions that have been rediscovered.
