The European bison (wisent) was extinct in the wild by 1927 but has been successfully reintroduced through captive breeding, now numbering over 7,000 individuals across Europe.
European bison rewilding is one of the most successful large mammal restoration projects in the world, demonstrating that extinction from the wild is not always permanent. Reintroduced individuals face welfare challenges during translocation — transport stress, unfamiliar environments, and social group establishment. Once established, however, bison in appropriate habitat live rich lives that fulfil their natural behavioural needs. The Blean Woods project in Kent represents an exciting UK rewilding initiative that will be closely monitored for both ecological impact and individual bison welfare.