The essentials

The Eurasian brown bear can reach speeds of 30mph.

A full-grown male can be more than 8ft (2.5m) tall and weigh over 75st (about 480kg).

Attacks on humans are rare, though brown bears will attack and eat sheep.

However they mostly eat fruit, seeds, roots and insects.

There are at least 50 in the wild in northern Italy. They can live up to 30 years.

Bears were pushed to the brink of extinction in Italy in the late 20th century, but numbers were boosted by a breeding programme from neighbouring Slovenia.