For the first time, scientists have determined the size of the entire Marsican brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) population, not simply the historic core in Abruzzo, Lazio, and Molise National Parks. According to the first comprehensive census, the historic nucleus is stable, but expansion into new regions remains fragile, and the species' future will be determined by its capacity to provide safety and coexistence in places outside of protected zones. The result is an extraordinary snapshot: 81 bears, with an uncertainty range of 73 to 88, spread throughout more than 6,000 square kilometers of the central Apennines. The Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security was presented with the data, which is the result of the most comprehensive genetic monitoring ever conducted for this subspecies, which is endemic to the central Apennines and is considered one of the most threatened large carnivores in Europe and the world. The research was conducted in the summer of 2025 as part of the DigitAP project, which was funded by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP).