Only 4 kilometers from the town of Hațeg lies the beautiful Silvuț–Hațeg Bison Reserve, named after the nearby forest and the area in which it is located.
The reserve was founded in 1958, when two European bison, Podarec and Polonka, were brought to Romania from Poland. Today, the reserve continues to play an important role in the conservation of the species and remains one of the best-known wildlife attractions in the region.
Covering around 50 hectares of forest filled with hornbeam, oak, and fir trees, the reserve was the first place in Romania where the European bison reappeared after having disappeared from the country centuries earlier. In 1959, another female bison named Pumila was brought from Poland, and within a few years the animals successfully reproduced in captivity. The bison born in Romania traditionally received names beginning with the letters “Ro”.
Over the decades, dozens of calves were born at the Silvuț–Hațeg Reserve, with some later transferred to other reserves and rewilding projects across Romania. The European bison, also known as the wisent, is currently considered a conservation success story after once being on the brink of extinction.
Centuries ago, bison roamed vast areas of Europe and Asia, but intensive hunting and habitat loss led to a dramatic decline in their numbers. By the early 20th century, the species had disappeared from the wild, surviving only in captivity. Modern conservation and breeding programs helped reintroduce the European bison into several countries, including Romania.
In Romania, the European bison disappeared from the wild in the 18th century, with the last known specimen in Transylvania reportedly killed in 1790. Today, thanks to conservation efforts, bison can once again be seen in several protected areas throughout the country.
The Silvuț–Hațeg Bison Reserve remains a popular destination for tourists visiting Retezat National Park and the surrounding area, offering visitors the chance to observe one of Europe’s largest land mammals in a peaceful natural setting.
Sources:
arsenalpark.ro/rezervatia-de-zimbri-hateg-silvut/
wikimapia.org/10782268/ro/Rezerva%C5%A3ia-de-Zimbri-Ha%C5%A3eg
International editions: