We just learned that the first little newborn bison calf in the Southern Carpathians has died, death probably caused by a horn. Unexpected and very sad news indeed.

The three lucky Rewilding Europe Travel Club winners were drawn on July 30, 2014 by Adrian Hagatis, Team Leader of the Southern Carpathians, Bruno D’Amicis, Communications Officer in Central Apennines and Staffan Widstrand, Marketing and Communications Director of Rewilding Europe.

For every day that passes there are now more and more nature and wildlife safari opportunities in Europe. You can travel around on your own, by bike or car and with map or gps in hand. Or maybe use some assistance to more easily get to the best spots, the most charismatic wildlife and the most interesting people.

WWF Sweden together with Rewilding Europe, the Swedish Ecotourism Association, Nature Travels (UK), Anders Reisen (Germany) and other organisations call for Sweden’s government after the elections this fall to put much greater priority on better and stronger nature conservation efforts. A call that was published in a large debate article in the very influential newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

Since 2011, arctic fox safaris not just generate money and attract new guests to the Helags mountain station in Sweden, but also helps the arctic fox to recover. Yet another proof that ecotourism can support the wildlife comeback.

Do you remember the little prince and his “Draw me a sheep!”? In the Southern Carpathians there is now a new version: “Draw me a bison!”. 40 enthusiastic local kids drew pictures of European bison during their Junior Rangers Camp in Poiana Marului from 3 to 7 July.

At the second European Rewilding Network webinar for its members, on July 8, there was an exchange of first hand experiences and inspirational stories from several rewilding sites about novel ways of building rewilding partnerships with hunting interests.

The new herd of European bison that was released in May in the Țarcu Mountains, Romania, now has a new member: a calf! The newborn is doing very well and as you can see from the photo it is already exploring the beautiful nature of the Southern Carpathians rewilding area. The little one was born in the night between 13 and 14 June and just recently our local colleagues and the bison rangers could say: “It’s a boy!”

Rewilding Europe and US-based The WILD Foundation have extended their partnership agreement by signing a “Collaborative Conservation Agreement” for 2014–2015.

How about roaming with European bison in the wild Țarcu Mountains, in the Southern Carpathians in Romania? Or five days to enjoy Abruzzo, one of the most interesting wildlife areas in Italy, where bears still live and are frequently seen? Or go for birdwatching in Grande Brière, the second largest marshland in France and a land of unspoilt salmon rivers, scrub land, heath land and forest, surrounded by warm emerald-coloured oceanic waters. These are the top three quality offers for the first draw of the Rewilding Europe Travel Club in 2014.