The European bison, or wisent, that were released on the Danish island of Bornholm in 2012 have now become real visitor attractions. During the summer of 2014 the island’s new bison reserve has had close to 80,000 visitors.
When the first seven bison were taken to their 200 hectare release area here in 2012, they were the first of their species on Danish soil for over 1.000 years. In Bornholm, they have since reproduced well and the herd now consists of 13 animals.
John Orbit, forest manager at Naturstyrelsen is positively surprised about this massive public interest: „We had counted with a possible maximum of 30-40 000 visitors”, he explains to Danish Radio dr.dk.
When the bison have been here for five years, the project will be evaluated and the bison possibly released in full freedom into the Bornholm landscape.