Will the Italian Grey Partridge Fly Again in the Mezzano Valley?
The Italian Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix italica) is a medium-sized, resident galliform bird that spends most of its time on the ground. Historically associated with open rural landscapes and the traditional agricultural ecosystems of the Italian Peninsula, this endemic subspecies suffered a dramatic decline throughout the twentieth century due to habitat fragmentation, agricultural intensification, and hunting pressure, eventually being officially declared extinct in the wild. The only remaining genetically pure individuals were preserved within a single historic breeding line maintained in northern Italy.
Why a LIFE Project?
The LIFE Perdix project, Italian Grey Partridge Reintroduction in Italy, concluded in December 2025 after six years of activities. It was launched in response to the urgent need to reverse the loss of this key component of Italy’s biodiversity. Funded by the European Commission and supported by a strategic partnership—including ISPRA (project coordinator), Legambiente, Arma dei Carabinieri, Federcaccia, Parco Regionale del Delta del Po Emilia-Romagna, and Fédération Nationale des Chasseurs—the project aimed to reintroduce the species into the Valle del Mezzano Special Protection Area (SPA), located within the Po Delta. This protected area, covering approximately 17,000 hectares, supported a significant population of Italian Grey Partridges during the 1980s and could once again become a suitable habitat for the species thanks to habitat restoration measures and the removal of the main threats affecting its survival.
Ecco la traduzione in inglese:
Project Outcomes
Thanks to a rigorous scientific and technical approach led by ISPRA, the project carried out a number of key activities, including:
- Genetic Selection: Through comprehensive biomolecular screening comparing birds from selected breeding facilities with museum specimens, breeders genetically attributable to the historical Italian subspecies were identified and selected
- Captive Breeding: At the conservation breeding centre in Bieri, managed by the Carabinieri Command for Forest, Environmental and Agri-food Protection Units, individuals were genetically selected and breeding pairs were established to ensure the highest possible genetic diversity in their offspring.
- Reintroduction: Thousands of birds were released into the Valle del Mezzano through a network of 18 pre-release acclimatization enclosures strategically distributed across the valley.
- Establishment of a Self-Sustaining Population: Field monitoring confirmed the hatching of the first wild broods and the establishment of a viable, reproducing population
As the culmination of this journey, ISPRA published the photographic volume entitled Rediscover Beauty in Rarity.
With the conclusion of the project, the post-LIFE phase has now begun. During this period, the monitoring and conservation of the Italian Grey Partridge will continue to ensure that this remarkable return becomes a lasting success for Italy's biodiversity.
Scientific article of the project:
Riga, F.; Gabbrielli, C.; Greco, C.; Montanaro, P.; Mucci, N.; Senserini, D.; Tabarroni, C.; Tramontana, D.; Volani, S. Back to the Future: Reintroduction into the Wild of the Italian Grey Partridge (Perdix perdix italica Hartert, 1917). Animals 2026, 16, 1685. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16111685
