Wisent Thal: Expansion of the Enclosure and Rules of Conduct

The enclosure area has now been doubled to 100 ha.

The new section of the enclosure is forested, meaning the wisents now have approximately 87 ha of forest as well as 13 ha of meadows and pastures at their disposal. The fenced enclosure remains accessible via entrance gates and visitors may move freely within it.

With the expansion of the enclosure, the period during which spotting the wisents was usually straightforward has also come to an end. Due to the vastness of the enclosure, the high proportion of forest, the lower density of paths and the topography, it is likely to become increasingly difficult to find the animals independently. Since, depending on the animals' location, few paths are available and considerable differences in elevation must be covered, we can no longer guarantee sightings of the animals even on guided tours. If the wisents have less contact with humans, they may also become more timid, which is advantageous for both animal and human.

The wisent herd has in the meantime grown from 5 to 10 animals, with 2 calves born in 2023 and 3 calves born in 2024. Wisents are fundamentally gentle animals. However, if provoked or prevented from engaging in natural behavior (e.g. when protecting their young), they can become dangerous. Information boards displaying the rules of conduct (see box) are therefore located at the entrances, and we recommend that these be observed. It is particularly important to maintain a distance of at least 50 m from the wisents, to keep dogs on a short lead (except in dangerous situations), and not to walk or ride through the middle of the herd. These rules apply to all who move through the enclosure, including walkers, cyclists, horse riders, etc.

The Wisent Thal project investigates whether the European bison, extinct in the region since the Middle Ages, is viable today as a wild animal in the Jura. To this end, a test herd of bison is kept in an enclosure for 5 years. The fenced test site belongs to the citizens' municipality of Solothurn and to farmer and bison ranger Benjamin Brunner. It continues to be used for agricultural and forestry purposes and is open to the public.

Rules of conduct in the bison enclosure

• Stay on the paths.
• Keep dogs on a short leash (except in dangerous situations).
• Do not walk or ride through the middle of the herd.
• Keep a distance of at least 50 m from the bison.
• Bison cows protect their young, so keep a wide distance from the calves.
• Increase the distance between yourself and the bison if a bison stares at you and shakes its head, paws the ground with its hooves, or lowers its head and moves in your direction.
• Increase the distance calmly and slowly, and do not turn your back on the bison.
• Feeding the bison is not permitted.