How and why the wolf became Italy’s national animal
Although Italy doesn’t have an officially recognised national animal, unofficially most consider the Italian wolf (Canis lupus italicus) to be Italy’s national animal.
The Italian love for and association with wolves dates back to at least ancient Rome. In roman mythology, a wolf played a key part in the birth of Rome by becoming a surrogate mother to the twin brothers Romulus and Remus whom she suckled when they were abandoned to die.
Romulus later went on to found the city and became its first king (though not before supposedly killing his brother). The Italian wolf is a subspecies of the grey wolf and is found in the Apennine Mountains and the Western Alps, living in packs of 2 to 7 individuals.
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