Epidemic Causes Deaths of 21 European Bisons in Romania’s Mountains

A recent epidemic in Romania’s Țarcu Mountains, Caraș-Severin county, has led to the deaths of 21 European bisons, raising alarm among conservationists and wildlife experts. The outbreak was caused by a severe parasitic infestation combined with dangerous bacterial infections, including Clostridium perfringens and streptococci.

Veterinary authorities confirmed that the bison population, numbering around 300 individuals in the area, suffered massive larval infections that led to a high mortality rate over the past 40 days. The carcasses of the deceased animals were either incinerated or buried to prevent the spread of disease and protect other wildlife, such as bears and wolves.

Officials emphasised that mortality remains below critical levels, noting that the situation becomes severe only if deaths exceed 10-15% of the population. The European bison, a species that had been extinct in Romania for over a century, has been successfully reintroduced through dedicated conservation programs, now numbering over 4,000 individuals across protected mountain regions.

Despite this outbreak, experts emphasise that the reintroduction program has been a significant success in restoring biodiversity and reviving Romania’s wild ecosystems. The recent epidemic highlights the ongoing need for careful monitoring and intervention to safeguard the survival of this iconic species.

This wildlife health crisis in the Țarcu Mountains serves as a stark reminder of the challenges involved in conservation efforts and the fragility of reintroduced animal populations in changing environmental conditions.