A Century After Vanishing, Wild European Bison Roam the Carpathians Once More

In the southern Carpathian Mountains of Romania, an ancient presence has returned. Wild European bison — the continent's largest land mammals, weighing up to 1,000 kilograms and standing 1.8 meters tall — are roaming freely through mountain meadows and forests for the first time in more than a century.

The last wild European bison was shot in 1927. At the time, fewer than 60 of these magnificent creatures survived in zoos and private parks worldwide. The species teetered on the brink of extinction. But a determined, decades-long rewilding effort led by the nonprofit Rewilding Europe and its local partner, Rewilding Romania, has brought the gentle giants home.

The story begins in the village of Armeniș, where local resident Mihai Miculescu had grown up hearing stories about the great, shaggy beasts that once roamed the mountains. When conservation teams arrived over a decade ago to discuss their ambitious proposal, Miculescu was curious. He and his son volunteered to help build the enclosure that would hold the first relocated animals.

"It is no longer enough to protect what is left of nature; it is also necessary to help nature regain the power to heal," says Marina Druga, Executive Director of Rewilding Romania.

Since 2012, Rewilding Europe has been working with local communities, national parks, and zoos across the continent to reintroduce bison into their historic ranges. In the Southern Carpathians, the results have been nothing short of transformative.

The bison are not merely returning to the landscape — they are actively reshaping it. As they graze on young trees, meadows develop where dense brush once stood. Their massive bodies clear fire corridors through forests simply by walking through them. When they wallow in mud, they compact soil and increase its carbon-holding capacity.

Their ecological contributions extend even further. Bison dung disperses nutrients and more than 200 species of undigested seeds across their territory, boosting floral biodiversity and supporting pollinators. Breeding birds use shed bison fur as nesting material, while magpies follow the herds to pick off ticks and parasites.

A 2025 study published in the journal Science documented similar effects in Yellowstone National Park, where the migration of roughly 5,000 bison across grasslands improved soil microbe density and nitrogen content. The Carpathian bison are providing European scientists with their own living laboratory.

For the community of Armeniș, the bison have brought more than ecological renewal. Ecotourism has emerged as a new economic lifeline, with visitors arriving from across Europe to catch a glimpse of the magnificent animals in their natural habitat. Local businesses, including Miculescu's beloved Dospita bakery, have seen a steady increase in customers.

The project stands as one of Europe's most successful rewilding stories — proof that with patience, community involvement, and scientific commitment, nature can recover from even the most devastating losses. As the bison herds continue to grow and spread through the Carpathian wilderness, they carry with them the promise of a wilder, healthier Europe.