More than 300 people living in the Velebit Mountains and coastal area were interviewed in November 2014, in order to obtain a clearer image of the local opinion on nature conservation, wildlife protection and development of nature-based tourism.
The Rewilding Europe initiative received a €500,000 check from the Dutch Postcode Lottery at the annual Charity Gala (Good Geld Gala) on 26 of January in Amsterdam. During the gala, the lottery proudly announced that thanks to its 2.5 million participants who bought more than 4 million lottery tickets collectively, a new record amount of 312 million euros will be distributed to non-governmental organisations in 2015.
Rewilding Europe has decided to start offering possibilities for volunteers to help us with specific activities. We have experienced there is interest for this and we would now like to offer the first possibilities.
Today, 30 fallow deer were released into the wild in the priority rewilding site of Chernoochene in the Rhodope Mountains, Bulgaria. The special release ceremony marked the flying start of the rewilding activities in this newest rewilding area of Rewilding Europe.
Wildlife Adventures is the first business in the Central Apennines to receive a loan from Rewilding Europe to help develop its website and marketing. These loans are provided by our specialised investment branch, called Rewilding Europe Capital.
From 25 November to 15 December 2014, eleven local entrepreneurs in the Western Iberia rewilding area received specialised training for guiding tourists in the Faia Brava reserve. The main attendees were owners of local rural houses and tour operators, as well as several individuals from the region who have dreamt to become nature guides.
Rewilding Europe now offers the perfect opportunity to anyone that loves and cares about wildlife! In a minute, you can become a vital part of Making Europe a Wilder Place, either by giving one of these gifts away, or putting them high on your own wish list.
On 11 December 2014, the Supervisory Board of Rewilding Europe unanimously approved the assignment of a new board member: Mrs. Lena Lindén from Sweden. The Supervisory Board now consists of 4 members: Wiet de Bruijn (Netherlands, chairman), Henrique Pereira (Portugal), Odile Rodríguez de la Fuente (Spain) and Lena Lindén (Sweden). Pierre-André Mourgue d’Algue (Switzerland) resigned from the board in August this year.
The three lucky winners in the December 2014 Travel Club lottery draw were drawn by Pedro Prata, Team Leader of the Western Iberia rewilding area, Colinda Vergeer, Regional Manager at Rewilding Europe and Simon Collier, Wildlife Tourism Manager of Rewilding Europe.
Today, two European bison cows as part of a group of four, were released into the wild in the Eastern Carpathians rewilding area. The gate of the enclosure was lifted by Professor Kajetan Perzanowski, Chief of the Carpathian Wildlife Research Station, Dorota Magusia, Vice Head Forester of Komańcza Forest District from State Forest Department, Professor Wanda Olech, Coordinator and President of the European Bison Conservation Center and Chairman of European Bison Friends Society, and Katarzyna Wasiak, Team leader of Eastern Carpathians rewilding area at a special release ceremony.