6 water buffaloes found a new home on Ermakiv Island

Thanks to the efforts of the Rewilding Ukraine team, 6 female water buffalo recently settled on the island of Ermakiv in the Danube Delta to enrich the gene pool of the local buffalo herd.

These animals came from Transcarpathia, more precisely from the Tisza River valley, where they were collected from local farms and cared for by Michel Jacobi, a German environmentalist and activist.

Water buffalo were introduced to the island of Ermakiv, in the Danube Biosphere Reserve, in 2019 as part of rewilding efforts. Their presence helps restore the natural grazing process, create mosaic landscapes, contribute to the island’s biodiversity and attract tourists. About 50 years ago, water buffalo inhabited the Danube Delta and their return to the region marks an important milestone.

These 6 new buffaloes will complement the existing herd, which has already adapted well to the unique nature of the Danube Delta and reproduces every year. In the future, this herd will serve as a reservoir for buffalo reintroduction efforts in other areas of the delta.

“These animals are real landscape architects! Well adapted to humid conditions and harsh vegetation, water buffalo have a diverse diet that even includes young reeds. They maintain meadows and canals, thin out bushes and even feed on invasive species such as amorpha,” explains Oleksiy Pudovkin, animal transport specialist at Rewilding Ukraine.

Buffaloes play a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem by digging into the ground, depositing dung, and creating puddles that provide habitat for insects, amphibians, and other animals. Additionally, their fur and digestive systems carry the seeds of more than 200 plant species.

Ermakiv Island was restored to its natural state about 10 years ago and today is one of the most biologically diverse areas of the Danube Biosphere Reserve. ANDRIY NEKRASOV / REWILDING EUROPE