Siegen (dpa / lnw) – The bison project on the Rothaarsteig is to be ended. The sponsoring association Wisent-Welt-Wittgenstein could not create the necessary framework conditions for a continuation, the district of Siegen-Wittgenstein announced on Wednesday. It is also not possible to reach a consensus for a continuation in the region. There has been a dispute over Germany’s only wild bison herd for years, including in court.
“Since the prerequisites for a long-term settlement of the bison are not given, the bison project should now be completed,” the district said, without giving more detailed information on the procedure. The district pointed out that the Federal Court of Justice had obligated the public authorities to evaluate the course of the project to date and to draw the necessary conclusions from it. The decision was “more than regrettable, but absolutely necessary.”
At the same time, the district accused the sponsoring association of using a “legal trick” to get rid of its obligations. On Wednesday, the association declared the herd to be ownerless and to terminate the previous agreement. This is intended to shift the responsibility to the public sector.
The bison were released in 2013 to great public attention. The herd, which had grown to 25 animals, did not stay in the Rothaargebirge as expected, but also roamed through the neighboring Sauerland, where they caused considerable damage to beeches, much to the annoyance of the forest owners.
