Wolf and lynx are living in Germany again, but what about moose and wisent? The Humboldt University in Berlin has determined that there is enough space in Germany. Both species still exist in Poland – but whether they can also establish themselves in this country depends on another question.
Moose and bison would have enough space in Germany – if they could make it here. Especially in the north-east, for example in the Schorfheide, in the Uckermark or on the Mecklenburg Lake District and in the low mountain ranges such as the Harz, Spessart, Thuringian Forest or Palatinate Forest, there are “large habitat areas” that are potentially well suited for moose and bison, the Humboldt University in Berlin found out.
The species that have become extinct in Germany are spreading west again from Eastern Europe. Occasionally, elk and bison are sighted again and again in East Germany. An international team of researchers from the Department of Geography at Humboldt University and partners in Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria and Sweden used so-called habitat models to map all habitats in Germany that are suitable from an ecological point of view. “We were surprised how many ecologically suitable habitats we were able to identify for both species,” explained study leader Hendrik Bluhm.
However, one obstacle to resettlement is the fragmentation of the landscape, for example by motorways and expressways. The expansion of border fences, for example on the EU’s external border, and the fence to contain African swine fever along the German-Polish border, which is located exactly in the area where bison and elk are currently found in the west, can slow down the animals’ migration movements. On the other hand, green bridges and reintroduction projects could accelerate the return of moose and bison.
Ultimately, social acceptance is crucial, the researchers pointed out. The question is not whether these species would have enough space in Germany, but where people would allow them to return and how conflicts, for example with forestry, are dealt with, explained Samantha Look from WWF Germany.
