Eight European bison have been released into the Kallmar forest reserve, around 200 years after the species disappeared from the region. The animals, five females and three males, came from breeding centres in two countries and spent several weeks in a holding enclosure before the gates were opened on Wednesday morning.
The bison now roam an area of around 1,200 hectares of mixed woodland, heath and wetland, surrounded by a fence that keeps them away from roads and farmland. Rangers will track them using GPS collars fitted to three of the animals and a network of camera traps hidden among the trees.
Engineers of the forest
Scientists hope the bison will help create a more varied landscape. By grazing grass, stripping bark and knocking over young trees, they open up glades where wildflowers, insects and birds can thrive. Their dust baths create patches of bare soil used by burrowing bees, and their dung supports beetles and fungi.
Dr Katrin Hollander, the ecologist leading the project for the Kallmar Nature Foundation, said the forest had become dense and uniform without large grazing animals. "Bison are not just visitors to the woodland," she said. "They shape it. Without them, part of the system has been missing for two centuries."
We expect the first changes in the undergrowth within a year. The bigger picture will take a decade to emerge.
Bison are the largest land mammals in Europe, with adult males weighing up to 900 kilograms. They are generally shy, but the foundation has asked visitors to keep at least 50 metres away and to keep dogs on leads. Waymarked paths will remain open, and a viewing platform is planned on the edge of the heath.
Some neighbouring farmers have raised concerns about the fences and disease, and the foundation has agreed to regular veterinary checks and a compensation scheme for any damage. If the herd settles, up to a dozen more animals could be added over the next five years.