The European bison was extinct in the wild by 1927 but has been successfully reintroduced from captive populations to reach over 7,000 wild individuals, representing a landmark conservation achievement with ongoing welfare dimensions.
European bison restored from captivity retain instincts and behavioral repertoires of their wild ancestors but face challenges adapting to modern fragmented European landscapes. Road mortality, disease transmission from livestock, and illegal killing pose ongoing welfare risks. Animals in managed semi-wild reserves sometimes require supplementary winter feeding, which alters natural ranging behavior. Genetic management to avoid inbreeding requires periodic translocations that cause capture stress. Despite these challenges, the welfare of free-ranging bison engaging in natural social behavior and foraging is vastly superior to permanent zoo captivity. The recovery demonstrates that rewilding from small captive populations is biologically possible with sustained commitment.