Bison-Rewilding-Plan-2014

Electric wires forareas with highsnowcoverbe used over several years as new founder groupsof around ten animals per year will be broughtin for a soft release to broaden the gene pooland to increase bison numbers, meaning thefacilities for the acclimatisation zone/semi-wildreserve will be used for a minimum period often years. By giving it an additional function asa tourist attraction, costs can be lowered andeven additional income generated. Within theRewilding Europe programme the followingrelease system will be utilised to guarantee thewell-being of the bison.After its journey to the release site, the bisonwill first be released into a so-called acclimatisationzone. This area is 10–15 ha and includes ahandling area in which the animals can safelybe tranquilised. The handling area consists of aflat area of approximately 40 x 20 m, with a solidsurface. Two gates provide easy access to the area,both for bison as well as vehicles/tractors. Thewhole handling area will have a 2m high woodenfence. All pre-release infrastructure must bebuilt inside the release area and be accessibleby truck. In the acclimatisation zone the bisoncan recover from stress and adapt to their newsurroundings. They can also be brought into thehandling area when they need treatment. Theacclimatisation zone will also have an important‘training’ function as bison may have come froma diverse range of environments and enclosures.The acclimatisation zone will be fencedwith electric fencing (two wires and if needed anadditional ground wire or three electric wires,independently charged in area with high snowcover) with a ‘back-up’ of a ‘deer fence’ of 2m high,in order to help prepare bison for the subsequentsemi-wild reserve (of at least 100 ha) which will besurrounded by only electric fencing.50