#186 | Bison's Return: Rewilding Romania's Carpathian Mountains with Gabriele Retez
Description
In this episode of Rewildology, host Brooke delves into the groundbreaking European bison reintroduction project in Romania's Carpathian Mountains. Joined by Gabriele Retez, Wildlife Ecologist for WWF-Romania's LIFE with Bison Project, the conversation explores the journey of bringing these majestic creatures back from the brink of extinction. Gabriele shares insights into the project's inception, its ecological impact, and the surprising discoveries about the bison's role in carbon sequestration. The discussion also touches on the delicate balance between conservation efforts and local community adaptation, offering listeners a comprehensive look at the challenges and triumphs of rewilding in the modern world. This episode not only highlights the remarkable resilience of European bison but also showcases how their return is reshaping ecosystems and potentially influencing climate change mitigation strategies, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in innovative approaches to conservation and ecological restoration.
00:00 Introduction to European Bison Reintroduction
00:42 Meet Our Expert: Gabrielle Retez
01:55 Gabrielle's Journey to Studying Bison
04:51 The Bison Reintroduction Program in Romania
07:57 Challenges and Strategies in Bison Management
09:13 Scientific Insights and Findings
22:21 Bison's Role in Carbon Sequestration
33:45 Challenges of Species Reintroduction
34:30 Conflicts with Local Communities
36:10 Learning from Past Rewilding Efforts
41:07 Human-Wildlife Coexistence
49:51 Future of Bison Reintroduction
56:28 Defining Success in Rewilding
01:02:30 Personal Reflections and Future Directions
Visit the website to read the full show notes.
Recording gear provided by Mojave and Focusrite.
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