Buzz
It may seem surprising, but lions once inhabited Europe, horses freely roamed Spain, and jaguars were found in certain regions of the United States. Their extinction was primarily caused by human activities such as hunting and habitat destruction, not climate change.
Rewilding focuses on reintroducing species to their ancestral environments, even after millennia of absence. The goal is not only to conserve ecosystems but also to restore them to their historical conditions.
1. Reintroducing Wolves to Yellowstone National Park
By the 20th century, wolves had nearly vanished from Yellowstone. However, between 1995 and 1997, 41 wolves were reintroduced into the park. This had a profound impact on the ecosystem. The wolves reduced the overpopulated deer, which had been decimating plant life. Over time, barren valleys and gorges transformed into lush forests, with some trees growing five times taller. The resurgence of forests attracted more wildlife and even altered river patterns, reducing soil erosion. By 2011, the gray wolf was no longer considered endangered in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
2. Reintroducing wild horses to Spain
For the first time in two millennia, 48 Retuerta horses are now roaming western Spain. These endangered horses are the closest living relatives to the ancient wild Iberian horses that existed during Roman times. Before this initiative, only 150 Retuerta horses remained, confined to a national park in southern Spain. By releasing two groups of 24 horses into their ancestral habitat, conservationists aim to boost their survival chances. As rural areas in Spain become depopulated, this effort seeks to restore biodiversity to historically farmed regions.
3. Giant tortoises on Ile Aux Aigrettes
Ile Aux Aigrettes, an island in the Indian Ocean, was once home to unique species like the now-extinct dodo. Human activity, including deforestation and the introduction of rats, devastated the ecosystem. In 2009, 19 Aldabra giant tortoises, resembling the extinct native tortoises, were introduced. These massive tortoises, weighing up to 660 pounds, are aiding reforestation by consuming ebony tree fruits and dispersing seeds. They also help control nonnative plants and coexist with the island's rat population.
4. Reintroducing trout to South London
Once heavily polluted, London’s Wandle River was infamous for changing colors based on the waste discharged by tanneries. By 2003, the river, which flows into the Thames, had been cleaned sufficiently to reintroduce trout after a century-long absence. While fishing is now permitted, the Wandle Valley Park advises against consuming the trout due to potential contamination from heavy metals and other pollutants linked to the river’s industrial past.
5. Jaguars reintroduced to Mexico
Jaguars, the largest big cats in the Americas and the only ones capable of roaring, once thrived across the Southwest United States and Mexico. However, their numbers have drastically declined. The Northern Jaguar Project aims to reverse this trend. This bi-national nonprofit manages a 45,000-acre reserve in Sonora, Mexico, housing an estimated 80 to 120 jaguars. Located near Arizona, the reserve raises hopes that these majestic cats may one day return to U.S. territories.
6. Beavers return to Wales
Beavers were eradicated from Great Britain 500 years ago due to hunting for their fur, meat, and scent glands. Blaeneinion, a 75-acre reserve in Wales, has reintroduced three beavers into the wild, with plans to expand this initiative. The Welsh Beaver Project is considering releasing 30 to 40 beavers into the River Rheidol this year. However, the proposal faces opposition, as critics are concerned about the impact these dam-building creatures will have on rural Welsh communities.
7. Restoring salmon in Washington
The Elwha River in Washington represents a unique rewilding effort focused on removing barriers rather than introducing species. Since 2011, dams have been dismantled, reservoirs drained, and the river allowed to flow freely for the first time in a century. Salmon have resumed their natural migration, and the appearance of a Dungeness crab along the riverbank even made headlines.
8. Heck cattle in the Netherlands
Oostvaardersplassen, a 15,000-acre nature reserve in the Netherlands, hosts animals that once roamed the region in ancient times. Since aurochs are extinct, Heck cattle—bred by the Nazis—were introduced as a substitute. The reserve is now home to herds of Heck cattle, red deer, and wild horses. Visitors can explore the area on a safari-like tour for $45. However, the absence of top predators like wolves has led to controversial practices, such as culling animals deemed too weak to survive winter, sparking ongoing debate.
9. Reintroducing wolves and bears to Scotland?
The Alladale Wilderness Reserve in Scotland, owned by multimillionaire Paul Lister, is a bold rewilding initiative. Lister has populated the 23,000-acre reserve with deer, highland cattle, wild boar, and the first wild elk born in Scotland in 3,000 years. The reserve also boasts 800,000 native trees, including Caledonian pine. (Historically, Scotland was so densely forested that the Romans named it the “Great Wood of Caledon,” though only 1% of those forests remain today.) Lister aims to reintroduce wolves and bears, a proposal met with resistance. Undeterred, he is conducting a study to release two packs of 10 wolves within a fenced 50,000-acre area, drawing inspiration from Yellowstone’s success.
BONUS: Przewalski horses in Mongolia
The Przewalski horse, the last surviving subspecies of the Asian wild horse, is known for its stocky build, thick neck, and short mane. Once roaming from the Ural Mountains to Mongolia, it was declared “extinct in the wild” for much of the 20th century. Today, herds can be found in Mongolia, Russia, Hungary, China, and even the Chernobyl exclusion zone, now a wildlife sanctuary. Thanks to conservation efforts, the Przewalski horse has been reclassified from “extinct in the wild” to “endangered.”
All images courtesy of Thinkstock.
