Just a few weeks ago, the first European bison calf was born in El Recuenco as part of the herd being monitored to study the potential of this species for restoring Mediterranean ecosystems. The people of El Recuenco have given the calf a name: ‘Bienvenido’, a reflection of the warm welcome given to an initiative which, from a small village in the Alto Tajo region, is generating valuable scientific knowledge for the whole of Europe.
Since the moment the calf was born just a few weeks ago, it has been developing well and is in good health. It spends its time feeding, running around close to its mother and exploring the area inhabited by the herd in El Recuenco (province of Guadalajara).
The mother completed her nine-month gestation here and remains highly attentive to the calf’s movements. As it grows, the young bison is beginning to imitate the behaviour of the adults and learn its place within the herd.
The European bison is an endangered species, so the birth is excellent news for the species as a whole. It is also an encouraging indication that the herd is, so far, adapting well to this habitat. The herd, which now consists of ten individuals, is part of a scientific study aimed at gathering new data on the species’ adaptation to Mediterranean ecosystems such as those found in the area, as well as on the impact on vegetation and landscape dynamics.
This is a highly significant research involving three universities, with analyses also under way on other bison herds living in different parts of Europe. Monitoring and comparing the results will generate new knowledge about the species’ potential to help maintain healthy ecosystems and create more resilient landscapes in the face of wildfires and other impacts of climate change.
In this case, calling the calf ‘Bienvenido’ is more than just a courtesy. It is also the name chosen for it by the people of El Recuenco, in honour of the village’s patron saint and as a sign of the affection with which they have welcomed their new neighbour.
The support of El Recuenco Town Council and local community was crucial in making this initiative possible. The bison, which inhabit an area of 400 hectares, are helping to improve the management of this area of public woodland by removing biomass that could fuel wildfires and helping to prevent scrub encroachment. But the benefits of the project are not limited to ecological and scientific gains. The presence of the bison has generated significant positive visibility for El Recuenco in the media and on social media, leading to an increase in visits to the village from families and nature lovers.
The study is being carried out in collaboration with El Recuenco Town Council, the University of the Basque Country (EHU), the University of Manchester and the ECONOVO Institute, part of Aarhus University.
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