The feel good stories on the of topic wildlife conservation are becoming fewer. But there is one to report from Germany. In April a small herd of European bison
(Bison bonasus) was released from its fenced enclosure in the Bad Berleburg region to become the first free roaming bison in Germany for 300 years. Hopefully the bison herd, consisting of one adult bull, five cows and two calves, will live and multiply in a 10,000 hectare managed forest on the Rothaar Mountains. Scientists will continue to study them and keep track of their location with radio collars fitted to two animals. WWF-Germany said the project is a ground-breaking step for nature conservation in Europe. After being studied by biologists at close range in an 88 hectare enclosure for three years, they concluded the European bison or wisent is a shy, peace loving animal that presents no risk to humans despite their horns (both sexes), large size, and formidable strength if allowed to roam freely. The last wild bison were shot in the Bialowieza Forest of Poland. One bull survived in the western Caucasus until killed by poachers in 1927. The last 50 representatives of the species were confined in zoos. Since then there have been several reintroduction efforts in Europe. The ancient woodland on the border of Poland and Belarus, Bialowieza Forest, now contains 800 wild bison. Herds have also been reintroduced in Moldova (2005), Spain (2010) and Denmark (2012).
