European Bison Have Relocated to the Solothurn Jura

Rewilding attempt of Europe's largest wild animal.

The European bison wildlife project in the Solothurn Jura has gotten underway. The first five bison have been living in an enclosed area since this week. The project aims to determine whether the reintroduction of the endangered largest wild animal in Europe is feasible.

The dark brown animals consist of a three-year-old bull, three cows aged between three and five years, and a calf born this year, as the Wisent Thal association announced on Saturday. The animals were transported on Thursday from the Wildnispark Zürich Langenberg to the Sollmat in Welschenrohr SO.

After their arrival, the animals made use of the meadow and the leaves of bushes at the forest edge, reported project leader Otto Holzgang. The five animals are initially living in a three-hectare acclimatisation enclosure containing forest and grassland. According to the association, this enclosure may not be entered.

After spending several weeks in the acclimatisation enclosure, the bison are to have access to a 50-hectare enclosure over the following two years. From the third year onwards, the enclosure is to be expanded to 100 hectares.

Over a period of five years, the association intends to use the bison test herd to determine whether the European bison — extirpated in the Middle Ages — can sustainably exist as a wild animal in the Jura today. The project is conceived with a duration of ten years.

European bison are large wild cattle native to Europe. According to the association, bulls weigh between 500 kilograms and one tonne. Cows tip the scales at 300 to 500 kilograms. European bison are closely related to the American bison.

The test site belongs to the civic community of Solothurn and a farmer. During the project period, the fenced area will continue to be used for agriculture, forestry, and hunting.

The nature project has repeatedly sparked debate. Last February, the Federal Court dismissed a private individual's appeal against the enclosure outside the building zone. The court determined that it had no significant impact on space and the environment.

The authorities of the Canton of Solothurn had correctly granted the permit. According to the Federal Court, keeping a semi-wild bison herd requires a large, as-natural-as-possible forest and pasture area and is therefore dependent on a location outside the building zone. Cantonal specialist authorities and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) had also assessed the project positively.