Short Summary
The Megafauna Foundation is in the business of strengthening wilderness areas in northern Spain, so the area of the northern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
Nature needs keystone animal species to form a healthy ecosystem. The European Bison, also called the Wisent, was once an intricate part of the fauna of northern Iberia. There are numerous cave paintings from northern Spain depicting the mighty Bison in vivid colors. A detailled research carried out in 2011 has confirmed the presence of Bison in northern Iberia.
We need to get the species back on Iberian soil and in their natural environment.
The Megafauna Foundation has a lot of experience in restoration biology and ecology, setting up breeding programs and de-domesticating animals so they can take up their place back into the wild. Members of our expert team also work for National Geographic Society, the FAO of the United Nations, UNESCO and Tourism International.
What We Need & What You Get
Before European Bison can roam free in the Spanish mountains again, some things need to be done. The money we are asking will be spend on the first stage of the reintroduction program:
- investigating possible release sites regarding vegetation, climate and terrain
- setting up appropriate release sites (fencing where needed)
- acquiring animals
- transport and manage the animals, including veterinary services and import paperwork
- monitoring their adaptation to their new surrounding and if they form social herds
- care for the animals untill they are ready to stand on their own.
All this costs money. For that we are asking you to help us reach our goal. Any amount of funding will help. If we do not reach our funding target, then we will keep on continuing with our Bison program.
It will be a great sight when the mighty king of the North Iberian mountains will be released back into its former habitat...
The Impact
Nature in north Iberia is still of an exceptional beauty, but the large animals that once were part of the ecosystem are gone. Those animals shaped the ecosystem to a very high degree. They are landscape architects that keep the landscape more open, which leaves room for a wide variety of flowering plants and bushes, a greater insect live, more birds, more fruit bearing bushes and trees from which all animals benefit. The European Bison was one of the greatest landscape architects of all. Just look at its American counterpart and you will know why we need the species back.
North Iberia is a prime location to reintroduce the species. They have been part of the faunal make-up as is attested by the numerous cave paintings and rock carvings in the area. North Iberia is also a wild place, where we are still able to create large wilderness areas. It is one of the prime locations in Europe to build our own Yellowstone or Grand Teton reserve.
The Megafauna Foundation is exactly stimulating that; restoring Northern Iberia to its former natural glory. We have just started some rewilding projects in the area. The crown on our work will be the return of the Bison.
Other Ways You Can Help
We know that not everybody has the financial means to make a contribution. That is why everybody that wants to lent a helping hand is welcome to do so. This is done for the local communities and for the greater good. We can always use people to help with building fences, monitoring the site, manage the site and the animals or in any other way. Just contact us and we will see what the possibilities are.
