BISON IN THE WILD IN THE SOUTHERN CARPATHIANS, THE BIGGEST BISON RELEASE EVENT IN EUROPE June 12-13 2015, Armeniș Commune, Țarcu Mountains, Romania Rewilding Europe, WWF Romania, the Armeniș Municipality and Armeniș Bison Hillock Association – AMZA, invite you to take part in the One year ago, Europe’s largest living wild land mammal, the European bison was reintroduced in the the Southern Carpathians. 17 bison were brought to the Țarcu Mountains, from breeding centers and zoos all over Europe. Since then the herd adapted to the area and is now ready for life in the wild. This June they will become the first bison to roam free in the Southern Carpathians for over 200 years. On June 12, a new herd of 18 European bison will arrive in the Țarcu Mountains near Armeniș commune from six wildlife centers in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and France. They too will undergo a soft release process before joining the first herd into the wild this comming autumn. We are excited to invite you to join us for this milestone event and to experience bison rewilding in action. Țarcu Mountains will be home to the second herd of wild bison to roam free in the Southern Carpathians for two centuries. You will take part in a unique moment for conservation, on the frontline of a flagship initiative which aims to bring back this charismatic species out of the danger zone, with a stable population of 185 free roaming bison in the Southern Carpathians by 2019, 500 in 10 years. We envision that local communities wellbeing can be sustained though nature friendly enterprises by valuing the largest wilderness stronghold in Europe. Rewilding Europe and WWF Romania, together with local, national and international partners are working to create a sustainable development model in the Southern Carpathians and to revive the wild bison population across the Carpathian range. The European bison, Bison bonasus, is a key species for preserving wilderness areas. If successfully re-introduced and its habitat effectively preserved the bison will help maintain ecological corridors on large scale, allowing natural processes to occur – rewilding helps nature heal itself. Staffan Widstrand / Rewilding Europe