The heard of bison who became the first to roam wild in the UK for thousands of years when released in July have now been given access to a wider roaming area - which gives the public a better chance to see them.
Four of the animals, including the calf which was born in September, have now been given access to 50 hectares in West Blean Woods in Canterbury, Kent, moving beyond their former range of five hectares.
It means the bison now have access to around one quarter of the Wilder Blean site, with a footpath running around the outside of the enclosure giving the public the opportunity to see the animals, if they are lucky. The public have been asked to keep dogs on leads.
Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust, the groups behind the project, are now fundraising to install tunnels to allow the bison access to more than 200 hectares, the range of the full site.
Bison ranger Donovan Wright, who witnessed the bison taking their first steps into the larger range, said: “It was an incredible moment, the matriarch led the younger females into their new home, making a beeline for the sweet chestnut trees and tucking in right away.”
The three original bison were all female and came from Irish and Scottish sites and the birth came as a surprise in September as bison hide their pregnancy to diminish any threat. They have been introduced as part of an eco-system to encourage restoration of wild habitat.
It is expected that a bull will join the four females, although it is thought he will be under the leadership of the matriarch and will not bother the calf.
Mr Wright said that walkers were surprised to have come across the herd as they passed through.
“It was not long after the bison had begun to explore their new home, that I had a chance meeting with some walkers visiting the Blean,” he said. “They were so excited to catch a glimpse of these incredible creatures from the footpath and it is great to see how inspired people are by this project.
“We anticipate more people will now visit the woodland to try and see if they can spot the bison. We would ask anyone walking their dog, to kindly keep it on a lead to prevent unsettling the herd.”
Now the bison are in the wider woodland, visitors are more likely to see them when walking the trails around the Blean or from a bespoke platform at Wildwood.
Mr Wright added: “The chances of seeing them are very small, however if people are patient, still, quiet and very lucky, it is a possibility. To adhere to UK legislation, two fences will separate the herd from the public at all times.”
