The wolf, big carnivorous animal, is an essential plug in the food chain regulating the balance of several natural habitats. If there are no "enemies", the risk is that the populations of wild ungulates (wild boar, deer, roe deer, chamois) excessively grow. The wolf represents one of the control "factors" and works in a targeted way: since it is a selective hunter, it tends to attack ill or weak animals.
The wolf, predator par excellence, has always represented a rival for men. A rival that has deserved over the centuries great respect, to the extent that it has become the protagonist of myths and legends but, at the same time, has suffered a merciless hunting leading, in many cases, to its extinction.
So different, but so similar: men and wolves can live together? The Wildlife Center of Alpi Marittime Park, before providing answers, offers to visitors - to young and adult visitors, to visitors who do not know anything about the issue and to wildlife experts - the opportunity to better discover this animal, its behavior, and therefore the opportunity to have at disposal all the necessary elements to form a documented and conscious opinion.
However, the aims pursued by the project "Uomini e Lupi" include much more. The challenge is to create an attraction that can become a valid alternative to forms of mountain tourism characterized by a high environmental impact: for instance, skiing facilities. The wolf, that without a doubt represents a problem for shepherds, can reveal itself an important opportunity for the local economy.
The Wildlife Center "Uomini e Lupi" is formed by two exhibit structures, one in Entracque paese and the other one in località Casermette. They are both equipped with multimedia installations. The visit to the two sections is independent and you can start from the one you prefer. The necessary time to visit a Center is about one hour.
In the closing days (except for November) the visitor center is open by previous booking for groups consisting of at least 15 participants.
By previous booking, the Center opens also during the other days for organized groups and school groups (at least 10 persons).
Info: Tel. +39 0171 978616 - prenotazioni@parcoalpimarittime.it
Ticket for the two sections "Uomini e Lupi"
Adults: 10 Euros; under 14: 8 Euros; under 6 children and people with disabilities: free; over 70: 8 Euros.
The entrance fee includes the visit to the section of the Center "Uomini e Lupi" in Entracque paese and to the section situated in loc. Casermette.
Ticket for the visit to the Uomini e Lupi Wildlife Center section (loc. Casermette)
Adults: 6 Euros, under 14: 5 Euros, cunder 6 children and people with disabilites: free; over 70: 6 Euros.
The ticket gives you the opportunity to enjoy the "Wolf Menu", for agreed prices ranging from 12 to 20 Euros at the restaurants belonging to the Ecoturismo in Marittime Association that join the initiative.