The reintroduction of bison in the Southern Carpathians is an initiative of Rewilding Europe that started in 2012 with a partnership with WWF Romania and the Municipality of Armeniș. In 2014, the first bison arrived in the Țarcu Mountains in the frame of the ”LIFE Bison”, financed by the LIFE Programme of the EU.
10 years later, the population reached 200 individuals. Our focus now, through the new LIFE Project called ”LIFE with Bison” is to create the first Bison-smart Community, a viable bison population, and a National Action Plan for bison management.
Daniel Mirlea
The European bison
200 years ago, the European bison roamed free. But a quick decline followed. When the last wild European bison was shot in the Caucasus in 1927, there were only 54 individuals alive in zoos and private parks. Conservation efforts brought back the bison from the brink of extinction. Today, the European bison population in Europe counts more than 8000 individuals.
The role of the bison
The European bison (Bison bonasus) is a keystone species of the ecosystem, significantly aiding in increasing and maintaining biodiversity. Adult males, weighing over 840 kg, create paths through dense vegetation, benefiting other wildlife. Their shed fur is used by birds for nest building, offering thermal insulation.
By consuming over 30 kg of diverse plant material daily, bison contribute to the dispersal of more than 200 plant species. They maintain open forest areas and create a mosaic landscape, providing habitats critical for sustaining other species.
Bison reintroduction in Romania
In 2012, after the favorable results of the Feasibility Study, Rewilding Europe, WWF Romania, and the Municipality of Armeniș, started the preparations for the first bison relocation.
A 16 hectares enclosure was created to accommodate the animals before the final release into the wilderness.
In 2014, the first bison arrived in the Țarcu Mountains.
In 2016, after a 2-year period of monitorisation and acclimatisation, the animals were released.
The reintroduction effort were supported financially by the LIFE Programme of the EU, through the ”LIFE Bison” project (2014-2019), joined by Cartier for Nature and Fondation Ensemble.
In 2023, the population already counting 152 individuals was added 8 more bison to strengthen the gene pool.
In 2024, through a new LIFE Project that continues the Bison Reintroduction Initiative, we aim to develop the first Bison-smart Community, strengthen the bison population, and create a National Action Plan for bison management that will provide the frame for future reintroductions.
WWF Romania / Rewilding Europe
LIFE with Bison
2024 marks 10 years since the arrival of the first bison in the Țarcu Mountains.
LIFE with Bison, financed by the European Union through the LIFE Programme is another step forward towards nature recovery, nature-friendly economies, and a better living for humans.