European Rewilding Network
ERN1308
European bison in the Rothaargebirge
Free living European bison
European bison in the Rothaargebirge in Germany.
Public interest to see bison in "Wisent-Wildnis", Rothaargebirge.
In the “Rothaargebirge” in North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany a herd of 8 European bison were released into the wild. A serious attempt to reintroduce a population of free ranging bison in Western Europe. Historically the European bison was distributed almost throughout all Europe.
Project:
European bison in the Rothaargebirge
Region:
Rothaargebirge
Habitat types:
Mainly coniferous forests and deciduous forest
Fauna (mega) species present:
red deer, wild boar, mouflon, roe deer
Aim and vision:
Goal is to establish a free-ranging herd of 20-25 European bison in the Rothaargebirge and to ensure the survival of this species on the long term.
To provide an example for further reintroduction projects elsewhere, where humans are omnipresent in the landscape.
Other activities:
Eco tourism, Research
Inspirational value:
This is the first attempt to reintroduce a large herbivore in a commercial forest and to establish a free ranging bison herd in West Europe. This would not be possible if not different parties would work together. A variety of different stakeholders are cooperating and involved in this project, e.g. private landowner, the city of Bad Berleburg, the district Kreis-Siegen Wittgenstein, the rural district NRW and the federal state in terms of the Federal Agency of Nature Conservation (BfN), as well as nature conservation organizations and different Universities. This construction is unique for a nature conservation project in this form and can work as example for projects with a similar goal and situation.
Experience you would like to share:
Wildlife management; animal interactions with the environment; human - bison encounters; public awareness and social context of reintroducing a wild animal.
Experience you would like to gain:
Wildlife management; animal interactions with the environment; human - bison encounters; public awareness and social context of reintroducing a wild animal.
Country
Germany
Start year
2004
Size (ha)
6000
Area type
Mountainous
Flagship species
Bison
European bison in the Rothaargebirge in Germany.
Public interest to see bison in "Wisent-Wildnis", Rothaargebirge.
In the “Rothaargebirge” in North-Rhine-Westphalia, Germany a herd of 8 European bison were released into the wild. A serious attempt to reintroduce a population of free ranging bison in Western Europe. Historically the European bison was distributed almost throughout all Europe.
Country
Germany
Start year
2004
Size (ha)
6000
Area type
Mountainous
Flagship species
Bison
Specification
Project:
European bison in the Rothaargebirge
Region:
Rothaargebirge
Habitat types:
Mainly coniferous forests and deciduous forest
Fauna (mega) species present:
red deer, wild boar, mouflon, roe deer
Description
Aim and vision:
Goal is to establish a free-ranging herd of 20-25 European bison in the Rothaargebirge and to ensure the survival of this species on the long term.
To provide an example for further reintroduction projects elsewhere, where humans are omnipresent in the landscape.
Other activities:
Eco tourism, Research
Achievements
Exchange
Inspirational value:
This is the first attempt to reintroduce a large herbivore in a commercial forest and to establish a free ranging bison herd in West Europe. This would not be possible if not different parties would work together. A variety of different stakeholders are cooperating and involved in this project, e.g. private landowner, the city of Bad Berleburg, the district Kreis-Siegen Wittgenstein, the rural district NRW and the federal state in terms of the Federal Agency of Nature Conservation (BfN), as well as nature conservation organizations and different Universities. This construction is unique for a nature conservation project in this form and can work as example for projects with a similar goal and situation.
Experience you would like to share:
Wildlife management; animal interactions with the environment; human - bison encounters; public awareness and social context of reintroducing a wild animal.
Experience you would like to gain:
Wildlife management; animal interactions with the environment; human - bison encounters; public awareness and social context of reintroducing a wild animal.