Bison-Rewilding-Plan-2014

STAFFAN WIDSTRAND / REWILDING EUROPEKey lessons learnedRomaniaSince the spring of 2012, five animals have beenreleased into Vanatori Neamt Nature Park (15), amajor achievement for the conservation efforts ofthis species in Romania. The reintroduction wascarefully prepared, with the establishment of aninformation centre and a broad educational projectfor the local communities. Bison were selectedthroughout Europe and kept in a fenced acclimatisation/breedingarea for the first few years. Fromthere the animals were released into an isolatedforested area of around 5,000 ha, with deciduousand mixed forests and an altitude of between800 and 1,000 m, with low human presence. Thereleased animals were monitored using radiotelemetryand initial conclusions indicated thatthe selected area was suitable for a free-rangingpopulation. In March 2013 a second group of fiveanimals was released in the same area and alsoappeared to adapt well to their new home range.The two groups joined and two calves were born,increasing the total to 12 animals in the wild in 2013(Razvan Deju, personal communication, 2013).• A big effort is needed to bring European bisonout of the danger zone.• More releases of bison are needed in areaswhere they can build up viable populations.• Bison can potentially thrive in open landscapesas well as forested areas.• Pre-release infrastructure must be secure.• Protection of bison and anti-poaching initiativesare vital for the long-term success of bisonreintroductions.• Herds need to be carefully managed in the earlystages to promote survival and populationgrowth.• Relationships with local/national governmentsneed to be established early on in order to gainsupport.• Stakeholders e.g. landowners, forestry,government, should be brought together forconsultation during the planning process.• Local people need to be consulted and includedfrom the outset in the planning process.• Human-bison conflict must be acknowledgedand tackled early on.17 bison were releasedin the SouthernCarpathians, Romaniain May 2014. Withmillions of hectaresof land available forthe animals plusstrong support fromthe local communityand authorities, theTarcu mountains herdcan potentially growinto the largest wildbison population inEurope. RewildingEurope will continueto release animalsthere annually, withthe aim to grow thepopulation to morethan 500 animals by2024.25