European Bison Return to New Landscape in Major Rewilding Step

Nine European bison have been introduced to a new rewilding site in Spain, marking the species’ first arrival in the Iberian Highlands and advancing efforts to restore ecosystems and support rural communities.

“This study will support unprecedented research into the ecological range of the European bison and its potential to restore landscapes across Europe,” said Pablo Schapira, team leader at Rewilding Spain.

The herd will be monitored within a 400-hectare woodland area to study grazing impacts, wildfire risk reduction and ecosystem recovery, contributing to wider research across Europe as the species’ population has grown from fewer than 60 individuals in 1927 to around 9,000 today, highlighting one of conservation’s most significant recoveries.