In the last 20 years the fossil record of Italian Permo-Mesozoic terrestrial vertebrates has been increased since the discovery of the dinosaurs tracks by Lerici (Liguria, 1988).
However, important footprints sites were already well-known especially in the Permian, both Early and Late. Early Permian tracks in the Orobic Alps (Lombardy) were described for the first time at the end of the XIX century.
Also in the Late Permian foot-prints have been known for more than one century in the Val Gardena area (Dolomites). This ichnofauna, with 6 ichnogenera and 9 ichnospecies, shows a very important diversity as there are large therapsids and pareiasaurs together with smaller primitive diapsids: it may be considered the most advanced tetrapod fauna in the Permian. In some cases, the foot-prints are exceptionally preserved, showing skin and claw details.
An important peculiarity is the discovery of tracks attributed at Gorgonopsids at the site of Bletterbach (South Tyrol), dated at 260-251 Ma, the only discovery of this kind in central Europe.
The permian-triassic succession at the locality “Bletterbach” South Tyrol.The known pelycosaurs became extinct during the Permian and were succeeded by the therapsids, mammal-like reptiles that evolved from the pelycosaur lineage and rapidly diversified into herbivorous and carnivorous lineages.
Reconstruction of the fauna of the locality “Bletterbach” South Tyrol, 260-251 million years ago. A) Pareiasaurs B) Pelycosaurs C) Gorgonopsids D) indet lizards
Tracks attributed to Gorgonopsids of the locality “Bletterbach”.Therapsids were small- to medium-sized animals displaying the beginnings of many mammalian features: fewer bones in the skull due the fusion of skull bones; enlargement of the lower jawbone; differentiation of the teeth for various functions such as nipping, tearing, and chewing food; and a more vertical position of the legs for greater flexibility. Furthermore it is though that therapsids were endothermic, or warm-blooded, enabling them to maintain a constant internal body temperature. This characteristic would have allowed them to expand into a variety of of habitats, and indeed the known fossil-bearing localities have a wide latitudinal distribution.
As the Paleozoic Era came to an End, the therapsids constituted about 80 to 96% of the known reptile genera. The mass extinctions that decimated the marine fauna at the close of the Paleozoic had an equally great effect on the terrestrial population – more then two-thirds of all amphibians and reptiles species were extinct. Plants, on the other hand, apparently did not experience as great a turnover as animals.
References:
Museo tridentino di scienze naturali / Naturmuseum Südtirol ed. (2004): Giornate di Paleontologia 2004 21-23.05: Guida all´escursione







Anyway, you can inconter the mammoth in todays world in various places (ecosystems?) and different situations, not only in
...on plastic bags (in honor of one of the most complete and 
So, you see, it is not hard to meet prehistoric beast, but to avoid it...