Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/bison-released-in-uk/
European bison have been released in the UK as part of a flagship wilding project to combat climate change.
The project is a collaborative effort between the Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust dubbed “Wilder Blean.”
According to a press release from the Wildwood Trust, conservationists hope that by releasing the bison, they will “promote stronger habitats by restoring natural processes that are able to withstand the current environmental crisis and species decline, and in the long run, reverse it.”
The Wildwood Trust spoke about the bison release on Instagram, writing:
“Today was a momentous day for Kent, the UK and the world. Today, European #bison were released into a UK woodland as part of a ground-breaking wilding project…we cannot wait to see how the bison transform this site into an oasis of biodiversity, paving the way for global conservation efforts.”
According to a press release from the Wildwood Trust, the bison were released near Canterbury in Blean woods.
While European bison were never native to the United Kingdom, the area used to be home to Steppe Bison and other wild grazing animals. A lack of woodland management is one of the eight biggest drivers of species decline, according to the press release, and conservationists are hopeful that European bison can recreate the grazing behaviours that once existed there.
The bison use their large bodies to help fell trees by rubbing up against them and they eat the bark as well. The woodland management they provide could help make space for other plant species and animals to thrive, prompting greater biodiversity.
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The Kent Wildlife Trut shared on Instagram that releasing the bison was “just the beginning.”
The went on to explain, “We have built the fundamental infrastructure for our grazing animals but we need to do more. Our next step is to ensure the bison can roam throughout different sections of the Blean, utilizing their natural behaviours and promoting landscape connectivity, whilst keeping the Blean open for the public to enjoy.”
According to the Wildwood Trust, this first phase of the project, which got started back in 2022, will run until May 2023, but it won’t stop there.
As the website states, the bison release is “part of a much bigger program of work that will form a core part of what Wildwood Trust and Kent Wildlife Trust are striving to achieve for decades to come.”
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
