The population of wildlife in some areas of Europe is growing. Brown bear population increased from 1960 and 2016 by approximately 44 percent, while the population of European bison grew by about 399 percent since 1971.
Who Is Coming Back?
The amount of bison in Europe reached 6819 in 2020, and the amount of Iberian lynx – more than 1100. As for the wolves, by 2018, their number reached at least 17,000. In 2025, Rewilding Europe sponsored four bison relocations, which led to the release of 39 animals.
How Do They Change Landscapes?
Due to their grazing or trampling behaviour, bison and some large herbivores can be considered ecosystem engineers. Beavers play an important role in creating wetland habitats by building compact areas and building upstream habitat projects. A large number of wetland ecosystems existed in Europe as a result of the working of beavers.
What Are the Problems?
The return of predators into a landscape is not without problems. Farmers complain about the loss of livestock due to wolves, while the population of some other predators, such as lynx, is declining. The success of rewilding projects depends a lot on the opinions of locals, as well as on the availability of habitats. See also our report on endangered species making a comeback.
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