Hyphen’s story became a proud continuation of The Aspinall Foundation’s work to return European bison to wild landscapes in Romania and Spain, contributing to the restoration of Europe’s largest land mammal after its extinction in the wild in the early 20th century. Born at Port Lympne as part of a successful breeding programme, he travelled more than 1,400 miles to the Făgăraș Mountains in Romania in December 2020, joining an ambitious project to restore European bison to a landscape from which they had been absent for around 200 years.
In the years that followed, Hyphen thrived in the scenic Carpathian Mountains, adapting to a life shaped by forest, open meadows and the natural rhythms of the wild. Soon after his arrival, he was introduced to a group of females and became part of an established wild herd, taking his place within a growing population of European bison in this spectacular landscape. Although other males were present in the area, there was confidence that Hyphen had sired multiple calves over the years, making a meaningful contribution to the future of the species.
Hyphen’s story is a powerful reminder of what rewilding can make possible. Born in captivity, he was given the chance to live freely, join a wild herd and contribute to the return of European bison in a landscape where they had been absent for around 200 years.
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