In 2019, 17 water buffalo from the Carpathian region were released on Ermakov Island in the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta. The release was part of efforts to restore natural grazing on the island. Rewilding Danube Delta says the buffalo are well suited to the wet conditions of the region and can feed on poor-quality vegetation, including young reeds.
The buffalo open up scrub and reedbeds. Their activity also creates pools and puddles that provide habitats for insects, amphibians and fish. They can also help distribute seeds, carrying seeds from more than 200 plant species in their fur and digestive system.
