Three European bison calves were born in the Eastern Rhodopes during the past few weeks, the Rewilding Rhodopes foundation has announced. They are the first additions to the herd for the year and are already accompanying their mothers as they walk the territory of the Studen Kladenets game reserve. The babies have already been filmed by photo traps set up by the Rewilding Rhodopes team. The calves now bring the number of animals in the herd to 22.

The birth of the three calves is a clear sign that the European bison is adapting successfully to life in the Rhodopes and creating a stable population, the environmentalists say. This is an important step towards the creation of a self-sustaining population in the region. The European bison begin to reproduce in their third year, with the calves remaining close to their mothers for two years.

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The European bison is the biggest herbivore living in Europe, and plays a key role for the balance in open forest ecosystems. In the region of Studen Kladenets this endangered species lives side by side with red and fallow deer, boar, wolves, vultures and other rare and endangered species.

The Rewilding Rhodopes project for reintroducing the European bison to the Eastern Rhodopes has been developed successfully for 10 years as part of a broader strategy for restoring large wild herbivores to the region.

Compiled by Veneta Nikolova
Translated and posted by Milena Daynova
Photos: rewilding-rhodopes.com