Three females of European bison, coming from Eriksberg Wildlife Park in Sweden, were today brought to the Eastern Carpathians rewilding area, to augment the existing population of some 270 animals with new genes. This is the first joint activity after signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the European Bison Conservation Center and Rewilding Europe on 15 September this year.

The final medical results from the National Veterinary Authority in Bucharest, Romania, confirm that at least two out of the three bison that died last week at the bison release site in the Țarcu Mountains, were infected by Bluetongue virus.

The 17 European bison brought back to the Tarcu Mountains in May by Rewilding Europe together with WWF Romania are now roaming in a 160 ha area, ten times larger than the quarantine area (±15 ha) in which they spent their first four months after arrival.

The 17 European bison who in May made their way back to the Romania’s Tarcu Mountains, after the species had been extinct there for 250 years, are getting closer and closer to full freedom in the wild.

On a parallel with the efforts by Rewilding Europe and its partners to bring back European bison to the Tarcu Mounatins, other great work is being done in Romania for this endangered species. For example in the Vanatori Neamt Nature Park, which is also a member of the European Rewilding Network.

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.

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.

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!”

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.