A decade on from the first release of European bison in the Southern Carpathians, two new groups have just arrived in the landscape. The animals will support further population growth and enhance genetic diversity, amplifying the positive climate, biodiversity and community impact of this iconic keystone species.

The return of the bison in Europe can enhance carbon sequestration, boost biodiversity, and drive the growth of nature-based tourism. To maximise the beneficial impact of this iconic herbivore, populations need to roam freely across large, well-connected landscapes.

The Rewilding Romania team have signed partnership agreements with Retezat and Domogled-Valea Cernei National Parks. This will support scaled-up rewilding efforts across more than 105,000 hectares of additional land.

Thanks to the ongoing work of Rewilding Romania and WWF Romania, the free-roaming European bison population in the Southern Carpathians rewilding landscape is thriving. New, multi-partner efforts will take bison recovery to the next level and ensure local communities continue to benefit.

Thanks to a longstanding reintroduction programme, the European bison population in the Southern Carpathians rewilding landscape in Romania is now growing rapidly. As it expands, rewilding efforts are shifting their focus towards coexistence and ecological impact.

Based in the Southern Carpathians rewilding landscape, the WeWilder Campus will connect visitors and companies with Romanian nature and culture, benefitting the local community and inspiring new ways of doing business.

A new grant from the Cartier for Nature foundation will support rewilding in both the Southern Carpathians and Iberian Highlands, with a primary focus on the reintroduction of free-roaming herbivores.

The success of the LIFE RE-Bison initiative means Romania’s largest herd of wild European bison now roams free in the Southern Carpathians. As bison rewilding in the area moves into a new phase, the future of this important animal looks bright.

A herd of 13 European bison has just arrived in the Southern Carpathians rewilding area in Romania and will soon be released into the wild. This will boost the genetic diversity of the population already roaming free here and ensure its beneficial impact continues to grow.

Technology is playing an increasingly vital role in conservation. During his recent internship with Rewilding Europe, Rohan Wadhwa used geospatial data to gain valuable insight into the movement of European bison in the Southern Carpathians rewilding area in Romania. We caught up with him to find out more.