PRODUCTIONS: RELICS OF THE PAST

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D. Cini, G. Pancaldi, M. Felli, A D'Onofrio, E. Coppola, F. Petretti

SD Cinematografica

30'

16mm

Two animals that are among the most difficult to observe, at least in Italy, live in perfect harmony in the same den. The porcupine is the largest rodent and the badger is the largest member of the weasel family living in Italy. Spending the daylight hours in theirs underground shelter, they come out at night to wander around suspiciously, protected by the darkness.
The ice-age forced the chamois down into Southern Europe, including the Italian peninsula. A small group found their way up the mountains of the Abruzzo region. The last 400 chamois living in the mountains of the Abruzzo National Park in Italy are descendents of an ancient community from the north who colonized the Apennine chain more than 250,00 years ago. Today, after many adversities and the risk of extinction , the chamois lives peacefully in the beechwood forests of the region. We follow the story of a young chamois, born during the month of May, illustrating the most curious aspects of the biology and behaviour of these magnificant animals. We see the young chmois at play; its struggle for survival during the long, snowy winters; and the mating exhibitions of the old males as they confront each other in late fall in order to establish their social position in the community.