Today, 17 European bison were released into the wild in Romania’s Southern Carpathian Mountains. They were invited here by the people of the Municipality of Armeniș, who have set aside a large part of their communal land for wildlife. The animals came from wildlife parks and breeding stations across Europe – from Sweden in the north to central Italy. In all a complicated logistical operation, arranged by Rewilding Europe and its partner WWF Romania. The  largest-ever bison reintroduction in Europe.

Traveling across the USA you can stop to have a hamburger and a coke (or pepsi), then drive 1000 km and stop to eat a hamburger very similar to the above in a town very similar to the previous one. However, if you drive 1000 km across old Europe, you will probably cross 3–4 country borders, pass 4–5 language zones, 7–8 architectural styles, a couple of religions and dozens of distinctively different delicious dishes …

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.

Rewilding Europe was visually very present and thoroughly presented during WILD10, the World Wilderness Congress in Salamanca, Spain, 4–10 October. WILD10 was an unforgettable week of happenings, media attention, world-class speakers, meetings and intense discussions, for example about the concept of rewilding, both in a global and in a European setting.

The Central Apennines (Italy) was announced as the sixth area within Rewilding Europe today during WILD 10, the World Wilderness Congress in Salamanca, Spain (4–10 October). The Central Apennines, known as “the Wild Heart of Italy” is a perfect example of a rewilding area that is very close to a big city. This the newest of our rewilding areas is only an hour and a half’s drive from Rome.

The Wildlife Comeback in Europe report marks a reversal in fortunes after hunting, habitat loss, and pollution have sent animals into decline over the past few centuries. The researchers looked at 18 mammals and 19 bird species found across Europe and they found that all, apart from the Iberian lynx, had increased in abundance from the 1960s until 2005.

In late August and in the beginning of September people in The Netherlands and  Belgium welcomed the first wolves in their countries since more than 100 years! Two countries with rapidly increasing numbers of wild herbivores in their natural areas. During the same period wild horses from The Netherlands were released in Latvia and Bulgaria, countries rich in wolves. Is this a coincidence?