Gran Paradiso National Park

In the early 19th century, due to hunting, the Alpine ibex survived in the Gran Paradiso and Vanoise area. Approximately 60 individual ibex survived here. Ibex were intensively hunted, partly for sport, but also because their body parts were thought to have therapeutic properties: Due to the alarming decrease in the ibex population, Victor Emmanuel, soon to be King of Italy, declared the Royal Hunting Reserve of the Gran Paradiso in 1856. A protective guard was created for the ibex. Paths laid out for the ibex are still used today as part of of marked trails and mule tracks. There were approximately 3,000 ibex in the park when it was instituted. The institution of the park led to an increase in the ibex population, which reached 4,000 by 1933. In the following decade, despite the presence of the park, a worsening of the quality of surveillance under Fascist rule, poaching and World War II led to a steady decrease in the ibex population. By 1945, only 419 remained. Their protection was re-established after the war, and there were 4,000 in the park in 2005. == Geography ==

The park is located in the Graian Alps in the regions of Piedmont (in the Metropolitan City of Turin) and Aosta Valley in northwest Italy. Altitudes in the park range from , with an average altitude of . In 1860, John Cowell became the first person to reach the summit. To the west, the park shares a boundary with France's Vanoise National Park. == Flora ==

The park's woods are important because they provide shelter for a large number of animals. They are a natural defence against landslides, avalanches, and flooding. The two main types of woods found in the park are coniferous and deciduous woods. At higher altitudes, the trees gradually thin out and there are alpine pastures. These pastures are rich in flowers in the late spring. About 1,500 plant species can be seen at Paradisia Alpine Botanical Garden near Cogne inside the park. == Fauna ==

Alpine ibex graze in the abundant mountain pastures in summer, and descend to lower elevations in winter. Along with the ibex, the animal species found in the park include ermine, weasel, hare, The ibex and chamois spend most of the year above the tree line. They descend to the valleys in the winter and spring. Alpine marmot forage on plants along the snow line. There are more than 100 bird species in the park, including Eurasian eagle-owl, rock ptarmigan, alpine accentor and chough. Golden eagles nest on rocky ledges and sometimes in trees. Wallcreeper are found on steep cliffs. There are black woodpeckers and nutcrackers in the park's woodlands. The park supports many species of butterflies including apollos, peak whites and southern white admirals. File:2006-08-06 31.jpg|Alpine ibex File:MarmottaGranParadiso.jpg|Marmot ==References==