The Dutch conservation organization Natuurmonumenten (Dutch Society for the Protection of Nature, 1905), with a staggering number of 735,000 members, 150.000 young members (of the OERRR initiative, 2012) and managing some 345 nature reserves covering over 101,000 hectares in The Netherlands, recently published a survey on the attitude of Dutch people towards wildlife in its country. Some 40,000 people participated in the survey showing a clear and positive attitude towards wildlife, wildlife comeback and more space for wild nature and wildlife.

Chris Dusauchoit, a Flemish radio- and television presenter and one of the faces of the Belgian TV show “Dieren in nesten” has, together with two young biologists launched the ambition to define which wild animals that are the five most impressive animals of the old continent. They are convinced: just like Africa has its Big5, we have to give our continent its own Big5!

Rewilding Europe’s facebook page reached 10,000 likes! We are very happy to see the rapidly growing interest in what we are trying to do, in the rewilding concept and its expansion, and in the many rewilding areas. Many thanks to you all for your thousands of facebook likes, to all these committed and passionate supporters of the idea to Make Europe a Wilder place!

A regional wolf hunting ban was recently decided in eastern Slovakia, covering one of the rewilding areas: the Poloniny National Park and the Eastern Carpathians Landscape Park, also called the “Wolf Mountains”. This is the first positive step in the restoration and protection of the wolf population in the Carpathians.

Rewilding Europe finalised today a new two-year partnership with Swiss-based Fondation Segré. The ambition is to prepare and implement urgent measures for the conservation of the Marsican brown bear in Central Apennines.

The lucky winners of the Christmas draw in our rapidly growing Travel Club were drawn on December 20, 2013 by Frans Schepers, Managing Director of Rewilding Europe, Ilko Bosman, Finance and Operations Director and Iva Tontcheva, Communications Manager.

The Rewilding Europe team is looking for a new, passionate, dedicated and experienced colleague to fulfill the position of Regional Manager (maximum 1.0 fte).

Driving one’s own draft reindeer with a sled through the snow-covered landscape and across frozen lakes in Sweden! This is the fantastic Grand Prize (for two!) in the December draw of the Rewilding Europe Travel Club. What more can you wish for a Christmas present!

The stunning documentary “The Wolf Mountains – Where Nature Is Getting a Second Chance” about the Eastern Carpathians rewilding site, is enjoying huge interest: more than 700 people attended its Slovakian premiere and the discussion until midnight with the authors in the town of Trencin.

Rewilding Europe is the cover story of the November issue of Timbuktu Magazine, the first iPad magazine for children. The Wild issue has just been published.