Four bison calves were born in the free-roaming herd in the Eastern Rhodopes in May and June, which is the highest number registered in a single season since the species' reintroduction there in 2019, the Rewilding Rhodopes foundation reported. The herd of European bison now numbers 19 animals, with this year's breeding success showing they have settled well in their new home.
In the previous three years, four calves in total were born in the herd. The calf born in 2019 was the first European bison born free south of the Danube in centuries.
The free-roaming herd is the result of the Rewilding Rhodopes team's efforts since 2013, when the first five animals arrived from Germany at the Studen Kladenets Reserve in Bulgaria's Rhodope Mountains. They were released in the wild in 2019 and have since been joined by bison from Hungary, Germany, Slovakia and, earlier this year, from Poland.
Among the new mothers is exactly one of the arrivals from Poland, which gives hope of further strengthening of the growing bonds within the herd.
All the new mothers and their calves are reportedly doing well, with the team monitoring them daily, Rewilding Rhodopes said.
The European bison disappeared from the wild in Bulgaria during the Middle Ages, while hunting and habitat loss saw it driven to extinction as a free roaming species in Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century. Thanks to various reintroduction programmes around Europe, nearly 7000 roam free in the wild today.
As they roam free in the Rhodope Mountains, the bison have a positive impact on local wild nature. They help to create a biodiversity-rich mosaic landscape through their grazing and browsing, as well as enhance local food chains. They also help to develop nature-based tourism.
/DS/
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