The rewilding efforts in the Rhodope Mountains took another exciting step forward with the arrival of five bison, one of Europe’s most endangered large herbivores and a symbol of wildlife restoration. Earlier this week, the animals were transported to Zhenda, the new priority area for the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation.
This marks a significant first step in the reintroduction of bison to this region, located in the northwestern part of the Rhodopes. It is part of a broader partnership between the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation and the South Central State Enterprise in Smolyan, aiming to restore wildlife in the Rhodope Mountains.
The five bison (four females and one male) come from the Zubria zvernica Breeding Center, part of the State Forestry of Topolčianky in Slovakia. They traveled nearly 1,000 kilometers to reach their new home in the Rhodopes. “The entire process of reintroducing large herbivores is a significant challenge, but we are pleased that it has been successfully accomplished. Following their capture in Topolčianky and a two-day journey to the adaptation site, we expect the bison to gradually adjust to their new environment. This adaptation period will last several months, during which experts from the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation will monitor the animals’ health and well-being daily. Once we are confident that they are fully adapted, the bison will be released into the wild. Our ultimate goal is to establish a sustainable population of European bison in the Rhodopes,” said Andreana Trifonova, Team Leader at the Rewilding Rhodopes Foundation.
The restoration of wildlife in the Zhenda area aligns with the broader vision for the ecological revival of the Rhodope Mountains. The primary aim of reintroducing European bison is to preserve the region’s remarkable wilderness and its characteristic mosaic landscape, which makes the Eastern Rhodopes one of the most biodiverse areas in Europe.
Bison are known as “forest architects” due to their role in preventing excessive shrub overgrowth and maintaining the mosaic structure of forest habitats. The European bison, also known as the wisent, resembles its North American cousin and is Europe’s largest herbivore. It is a keystone species in open forest ecosystems. The bison became extinct in the wild in the early 20th century due to hunting and habitat loss. In Bulgaria, the species disappeared during the Middle Ages. However, large-scale breeding and reintroduction programs have restored wild bison populations in Central and Eastern Europe, primarily in Poland and Belarus. In the 1960s, a small herd of bison was reintroduced into a hunting reserve in northern Bulgaria.
Bison are already a key symbol of the natural heritage of the Eastern Rhodopes. In 2013, a small group of bison was introduced to the Studen Kladenets protected area, and in 2019, they were released into the wild. Today, the Eastern Rhodopes are home to a population of 19 European bison.
The rewilding initiative is expected to enhance Bulgaria’s profile as a premier eco-tourism destination in Europe, while also supporting small local businesses by leveraging the economic benefits of a thriving natural environment.