European Rewilding Network
ERN1302

Rhodope Mountains

Rewilding the Rhodope Mountains

The flora and fauna of the Eastern Rhodopes is a fascinating array of natural wonders, comprising many species unfamiliar to most Europeans.
Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe
Wild, native original Fallow deer, Dama dama, Studen Kladenets reserve, Eastern Rhodope mountains, Bulgaria
Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe
The European bison that have been reintroduced into Studen Kladenets Reserve have quickly established themselves as a major attraction for locals and visitors. They complement a free-ranging population of fallow deer, one of the largest in Europe, and red deer, reintroduced by the Rewilding Rhodopes team into the reserve.
Bogdan Boev
Restoring natural food webs in the Rhodope Mountains is a flagship project of Rewilding Europe, supported by the European Commission through the LIFE project “Conservation of black and griffon vultures in the cross-border Rhodope mountains”.
Grazing trials with free-roaming wild horses will allow us to determine whether open habitats will stay open when this native herbivore is present in natural numbers.
A great effort to understand the movements and causes of mortality of the vultures have been undertaken, with 27 cinereous vultures fitted with satellite transmitters in Greece's Dadia National Park and 31 Griffon vultures in Eastern Rhodopes.
Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation

Vultures are perhaps the most iconic examples of European scavengers; the sight of these majestic birds soaring overhead on thermals or feeding at a carcass can be truly captivating.
Thanks to reintroductions and species protection, threatened European vulture populations are slowly but steadily recovering. Yet as the occurrence of wild herbivore carcasses has declined, so these magnificent birds have become increasingly dependent on the carcasses of domesticated animals. Ever stricter veterinary regulations, however, mean this food source is also becoming increasingly unreliable.

Working with local partners Rewilding Rhodopes is increasing the number of local ungulates through several annual red deer and fallow deer releases, with reintroduced animal behaviour monitored through the use of GPS collars. Since 2014, over 500 fallow deer and 100 red deer have been released.

The number of griffon vulture pairs rose to 105 producing 72 juveniles (compared with 65 in 2018), that fledged successfully. Considerable time and effort has been invested
in protecting this burgeoning colony, with 167 pylons insulated and fitted with flight diverters to prevent electrocution and collisions. In 2016 the first anti-poison dog unit also began patrolling the Rhodope Mountains helping to protect vultures by establishing poison-free areas.

Together with partners, Rewilding Europe is creating space for natural processes like forest regeneration, free flowing rivers, herbivory and carnivory to impact ecosystems. The work of Rewilding Europe and Rewilding Rhodopes is now seeing increasing numbers of keystone herbivores such as red and fallow deer, European bison and horses in the Rhodopes. Grazing trials with free-roaming wild horses will allow to determine whether open habitats will stay open when this native herbivore is present in natural numbers.

The increased wildlife numbers and the reintroduced native species provide a basis for a unique and varied tourism offer firmly built on these assets. Rhodope Mountains can become one of the best places in Europe for raptors and large herbivores watching. In addition to that, local businesses and regional products benefit from the rewilding activities and provide incentives for entrepreneurs to invest in the area, thereby contributing to the uniqueness and attractiveness of it.

Project: Rhodope Mountains
Region: Rhodope Mountains
Type of protection: Natura 2000, Specially Protected Areas
Habitat types: River and brook streambeds, low mountains, beech-oak forest, shrublands
Keystone species: Wolf, brown bear: low number, red deer, wild boar, jackal, Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Black vulture, Eastern imperial eagle
Fauna (mega) species present: Fallow deer, Konik horse, Chamois, Red fox, Otter, Souslik, Rhodopi short horn cattle, saker falcon, Levant sparrowhawk, peregrine falcon
Type of project: Creating space for wilder nature, Fostering the development of nature based economies, Increasing interest in the wild through communications, Magnification of rewilding impact and practices, Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision: Four priority areas will serve as inspiration for rewilding at the larger scale: Madzharovo, Byala Reka, Studen Kladenets and Chernoochene. In these core areas, non-intervention management and giving space to natural processes are pioneered towards a more natural landscape.
Making the Rhodope Mountains a much wilder place. For the benefit of nature and people.
Uniqueness of the project: Marvellous scenery. Unique bird, reptile and insect species. Highest diversity on butterflies, reptiles and raptors.
Other activities: Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Other, Recreational activities, Research, Sale of sustainable products
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: By 2024, the Rhodope Mountains area, with its mosaic of open landscapes, oak and beech forests, grasslands and rivers, as well as rocky slopes and cliffs, has become one of the most exciting wild areas in South-Eastern Europe.
Results so far: The bison herd has grown to 11 in 2021, with two calves born this year and a further two young females released – having arrived from zoos in Hungary and Slovakia. With more hooves on the ground, their grazing, browsing, wallowing and seed dispersal will soon have a greater impact on biodiversity, creating niches of habitat that benefit different species, and a dynamic landscape of wooded areas and open grassland.
In 2016 the LIFE project "Conservation of black and griffon vultures in the cross-border Rhodope mountains" started in cooperation with five conservation partners in Bulgaria and Greece.
An awareness and training seminar on poisoning and wildlife crime for police, forestry and other authorities was held in Krumovgrad.
During 2020 the reintroduced red deer population exceeded 100, and 81 fallow deer were released at various locations, with some fitted with GPS collars to track their movements. Since 2014, over 500 fallow deer and 50 red deer have been released.
The number of griffon vulture pairs rose to 105 producing 72 juveniles (compared with 65 in 2018 ), that fledged successfully. Considerable time and effort has been invested in protecting this burgeoning colony, with 167 pylons insulated and fitted with flight diverters to prevent electrocution and collisions.
Plans to reintroduce the cinereous vulture are gathering pace following a visit in 2020 from representatives of Spanish raptor rehabilitation and reintroduction specialist, GREFA, who identified several suitable release sites. Preparations are under way for the construction of a pre-release aviary.
Several artificial nests for the cinereous vultures have been installed in the Krumovitsa Special Protection Area, situated along the main flying corridor of the species to Bulgaria.
A great effort to understand the movements and causes of mortality of the vultures have been undertaken, with 27 cinereous vultures fitted with satellite transmitters in Greece's Dadia National Park and 31 Griffon vultures in Eastern Rhodopes.
New herds of Karakachan horses have been established with 120 free-roaming Karakachan horses, in addition to the almost 100 Konik horses living wild in the area.
Our work with Bulgaria's first anti-poisoning dog unit - established in 2016 - in the area continues to reduce the poisoning of wildlife in the area and help to restore vulture populations. In 2020, relationships forged with police forces at a local and national level and an anti-poisoning strategy was concluded and submitted for governmental endorsement.
In 2020, a local enterprise officer has been hired to facilitate the growth of nature tourism in the Rhodopes region, in collaboration with the central team.
Six hides for wildlife photography tourism since the start.
Several traininging seminars on wildlife watching enterprise development and wildlife photography have been held in Madzharovo, with more than 30 participants taking part.
The Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation has been established through the transformation of the former NTG, and is the preferential partner of Rewilding Europe in the rewilding area.
A new partnership with German shoemaker Wildling Shoes will see rewilding efforts scale up in the Rhodope Mountains, generating wide-ranging benefits for nature and people.
From 2015 to 2019 Fondation Segré financially supported rewilding in the Rhodope Mountains.
Inspirational value: The Bulgarian team is devoted towards the people and the nature and has inspired others without telling what to do, all of them found their own way to act. Concrete help and lots of media attention made them believe that there is something special about their region. Having their B&B or animals on television or in the newspapers made them proud about themselves and about the project. In a couple of years the region became a growing popular destination in Bulgaria and abroad and has now thousands of visitors per year. So more people start to invest. Also hunting groups are inspired and open up their doors to tourists in the non-hunting season, and are motivated by the reintroduction of deer, bison and horses.
Experience you would like to share: Motivating local people, working on trust
Working together with hunting associations
Forming a good team
Learning from reintroductions of several species like red and fallow deer, wild living horse, bison and wild living cattle.
Experience you would like to gain: How to attract more local and foreign tourists<br /> Catching wild animals
Map
Country
Bulgaria
Start year
2014
Size (ha)
250000
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic
Natural process
Natural grazing, Predation
Flagship species
Bison, Feral horses, Red deer, Roe deer, Vulture
Rhodope Mountains
Rhodope Mountains
Member of:
European Wildlife Bank
European Safari Company
The flora and fauna of the Eastern Rhodopes is a fascinating array of natural wonders, comprising many species unfamiliar to most Europeans.
Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe
Wild, native original Fallow deer, Dama dama, Studen Kladenets reserve, Eastern Rhodope mountains, Bulgaria
Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe
The European bison that have been reintroduced into Studen Kladenets Reserve have quickly established themselves as a major attraction for locals and visitors. They complement a free-ranging population of fallow deer, one of the largest in Europe, and red deer, reintroduced by the Rewilding Rhodopes team into the reserve.
Bogdan Boev
Restoring natural food webs in the Rhodope Mountains is a flagship project of Rewilding Europe, supported by the European Commission through the LIFE project “Conservation of black and griffon vultures in the cross-border Rhodope mountains”.
Grazing trials with free-roaming wild horses will allow us to determine whether open habitats will stay open when this native herbivore is present in natural numbers.
A great effort to understand the movements and causes of mortality of the vultures have been undertaken, with 27 cinereous vultures fitted with satellite transmitters in Greece's Dadia National Park and 31 Griffon vultures in Eastern Rhodopes.
Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation

Vultures are perhaps the most iconic examples of European scavengers; the sight of these majestic birds soaring overhead on thermals or feeding at a carcass can be truly captivating.
Thanks to reintroductions and species protection, threatened European vulture populations are slowly but steadily recovering. Yet as the occurrence of wild herbivore carcasses has declined, so these magnificent birds have become increasingly dependent on the carcasses of domesticated animals. Ever stricter veterinary regulations, however, mean this food source is also becoming increasingly unreliable.

Working with local partners Rewilding Rhodopes is increasing the number of local ungulates through several annual red deer and fallow deer releases, with reintroduced animal behaviour monitored through the use of GPS collars. Since 2014, over 500 fallow deer and 100 red deer have been released.

The number of griffon vulture pairs rose to 105 producing 72 juveniles (compared with 65 in 2018), that fledged successfully. Considerable time and effort has been invested
in protecting this burgeoning colony, with 167 pylons insulated and fitted with flight diverters to prevent electrocution and collisions. In 2016 the first anti-poison dog unit also began patrolling the Rhodope Mountains helping to protect vultures by establishing poison-free areas.

Together with partners, Rewilding Europe is creating space for natural processes like forest regeneration, free flowing rivers, herbivory and carnivory to impact ecosystems. The work of Rewilding Europe and Rewilding Rhodopes is now seeing increasing numbers of keystone herbivores such as red and fallow deer, European bison and horses in the Rhodopes. Grazing trials with free-roaming wild horses will allow to determine whether open habitats will stay open when this native herbivore is present in natural numbers.

The increased wildlife numbers and the reintroduced native species provide a basis for a unique and varied tourism offer firmly built on these assets. Rhodope Mountains can become one of the best places in Europe for raptors and large herbivores watching. In addition to that, local businesses and regional products benefit from the rewilding activities and provide incentives for entrepreneurs to invest in the area, thereby contributing to the uniqueness and attractiveness of it.

Map
Country
Bulgaria
Start year
2014
Size (ha)
250000
Area type
Forest-grassland mosaic
Natural process
Natural grazing, Predation
Flagship species
Bison, Feral horses, Red deer, Roe deer, Vulture
Specification
Project: Rhodope Mountains
Region: Rhodope Mountains
Type of protection: Natura 2000, Specially Protected Areas
Habitat types: River and brook streambeds, low mountains, beech-oak forest, shrublands
Keystone species: Wolf, brown bear: low number, red deer, wild boar, jackal, Griffon vulture, Egyptian vulture, Black vulture, Eastern imperial eagle
Fauna (mega) species present: Fallow deer, Konik horse, Chamois, Red fox, Otter, Souslik, Rhodopi short horn cattle, saker falcon, Levant sparrowhawk, peregrine falcon
Description
Type of project: Creating space for wilder nature, Fostering the development of nature based economies, Increasing interest in the wild through communications, Magnification of rewilding impact and practices, Supporting wildlife comeback
Aim and vision: Four priority areas will serve as inspiration for rewilding at the larger scale: Madzharovo, Byala Reka, Studen Kladenets and Chernoochene. In these core areas, non-intervention management and giving space to natural processes are pioneered towards a more natural landscape.
Making the Rhodope Mountains a much wilder place. For the benefit of nature and people.
Uniqueness of the project: Marvellous scenery. Unique bird, reptile and insect species. Highest diversity on butterflies, reptiles and raptors.
Other activities: Community involved, Eco tourism, Education, Other, Recreational activities, Research, Sale of sustainable products
Achievements
Results you aim to accomplish in 10 years from now on: By 2024, the Rhodope Mountains area, with its mosaic of open landscapes, oak and beech forests, grasslands and rivers, as well as rocky slopes and cliffs, has become one of the most exciting wild areas in South-Eastern Europe.
Results so far: The bison herd has grown to 11 in 2021, with two calves born this year and a further two young females released – having arrived from zoos in Hungary and Slovakia. With more hooves on the ground, their grazing, browsing, wallowing and seed dispersal will soon have a greater impact on biodiversity, creating niches of habitat that benefit different species, and a dynamic landscape of wooded areas and open grassland.
In 2016 the LIFE project "Conservation of black and griffon vultures in the cross-border Rhodope mountains" started in cooperation with five conservation partners in Bulgaria and Greece.
An awareness and training seminar on poisoning and wildlife crime for police, forestry and other authorities was held in Krumovgrad.
During 2020 the reintroduced red deer population exceeded 100, and 81 fallow deer were released at various locations, with some fitted with GPS collars to track their movements. Since 2014, over 500 fallow deer and 50 red deer have been released.
The number of griffon vulture pairs rose to 105 producing 72 juveniles (compared with 65 in 2018 ), that fledged successfully. Considerable time and effort has been invested in protecting this burgeoning colony, with 167 pylons insulated and fitted with flight diverters to prevent electrocution and collisions.
Plans to reintroduce the cinereous vulture are gathering pace following a visit in 2020 from representatives of Spanish raptor rehabilitation and reintroduction specialist, GREFA, who identified several suitable release sites. Preparations are under way for the construction of a pre-release aviary.
Several artificial nests for the cinereous vultures have been installed in the Krumovitsa Special Protection Area, situated along the main flying corridor of the species to Bulgaria.
A great effort to understand the movements and causes of mortality of the vultures have been undertaken, with 27 cinereous vultures fitted with satellite transmitters in Greece's Dadia National Park and 31 Griffon vultures in Eastern Rhodopes.
New herds of Karakachan horses have been established with 120 free-roaming Karakachan horses, in addition to the almost 100 Konik horses living wild in the area.
Our work with Bulgaria's first anti-poisoning dog unit - established in 2016 - in the area continues to reduce the poisoning of wildlife in the area and help to restore vulture populations. In 2020, relationships forged with police forces at a local and national level and an anti-poisoning strategy was concluded and submitted for governmental endorsement.
In 2020, a local enterprise officer has been hired to facilitate the growth of nature tourism in the Rhodopes region, in collaboration with the central team.
Six hides for wildlife photography tourism since the start.
Several traininging seminars on wildlife watching enterprise development and wildlife photography have been held in Madzharovo, with more than 30 participants taking part.
The Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation has been established through the transformation of the former NTG, and is the preferential partner of Rewilding Europe in the rewilding area.
A new partnership with German shoemaker Wildling Shoes will see rewilding efforts scale up in the Rhodope Mountains, generating wide-ranging benefits for nature and people.
From 2015 to 2019 Fondation Segré financially supported rewilding in the Rhodope Mountains.
Exchange
Inspirational value: The Bulgarian team is devoted towards the people and the nature and has inspired others without telling what to do, all of them found their own way to act. Concrete help and lots of media attention made them believe that there is something special about their region. Having their B&B or animals on television or in the newspapers made them proud about themselves and about the project. In a couple of years the region became a growing popular destination in Bulgaria and abroad and has now thousands of visitors per year. So more people start to invest. Also hunting groups are inspired and open up their doors to tourists in the non-hunting season, and are motivated by the reintroduction of deer, bison and horses.
Experience you would like to share: Motivating local people, working on trust<br /> Working together with hunting associations<br /> Forming a good team<br /> Learning from reintroductions of several species like red and fallow deer, wild living horse, bison and wild living cattle.
Experience you would like to gain: How to attract more local and foreign tourists<br /> Catching wild animals
Rhodope Mountains
Rhodope Mountains
Member of:
European Wildlife Bank
European Safari Company
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