The European bison was extinct in the wild by 1927 but has been successfully reintroduced from captive breeding stock, now numbering over 7,000 wild individuals — a conservation triumph that offers important lessons about rewilding welfare.
Captive-bred bison used for reintroduction experience welfare impacts from extended captivity including limited movement, reduced social complexity and dependence on supplementary feeding. The transition to wild conditions involves learning to find food across seasons, navigate new landscapes and establish social hierarchies — stressful processes with higher mortality among recently released animals. Newly introduced populations may encounter unfamiliar parasites and pathogens in reintroduction areas. Human-wildlife conflict when bison damage crops or forestry can result in lethal control of individual animals. Well-designed reintroduction programmes that include post-release monitoring and veterinary support substantially improve welfare outcomes.