More than two centuries after the European bison vanished from Romania's forests, the thundering hoofbeats of the continent's largest land mammal are once again echoing through the Țarcu Mountains in the Southern Carpathians. Today, over 250 bison roam freely across this rugged landscape — nearly half born in the wild — marking one of Europe's most remarkable wildlife comebacks. And now, three carefully chosen ambassadors are being tasked with something equally ambitious: bringing this extraordinary recovery story to the millions of people who need to hear it.
The return matters because it signals something profound about our relationship with wild nature. When a species absent for centuries reestablishes itself, it reshapes not just forests and valleys but human hearts and minds. The Țarcu Mountains bison project isn't just about numbers; it's about reviving ecological relationships that have been broken for generations. European bison, the largest land mammals in Europe, reshape the landscape as they move through it — their grazing patterns, their movements, their presence — all of which restore balance to forest ecosystems that have spent centuries out of rhythm.
The new "Bison Ambassadors" programme, launched through the EU-funded LIFE with Bison initiative by Rewilding Romania, recognizes that nature recovery happens not in isolation but in conversation with human communities. Three figures with distinct voices and platforms have been selected to be the public face of this rewilding transformation. Dana Rogoz, a well-known Romanian actress and filmmaker, will bring the story to her followers and help reconnect people with wild nature. Roxana Zaha, a regenerative farmer and anthropologist who lives within the rewilding landscape itself, embodies the possibility of working in harmony with nature through agricultural practices that support biodiversity. Alexandru Stermin, a biologist, explorer, and university lecturer at Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, brings scientific depth and a lifelong commitment to understanding the human-nature relationship.
Starting this summer, these ambassadors will undertake planned visits to the Southern Carpathians, spending time with Rewilding Romania's team, local residents, and students. They'll witness milestone moments including bison releases, document the transformation of the landscape, and observe how rewilding is creating new opportunities for communities. Rather than delivering a scripted message, each ambassador will contribute in their own style — through social media reflections, travel journals, photography, and video — offering authentic perspectives on what nature recovery looks like on the ground.
"Most ambassadorial roles give you a platform," explains Sebastian Ursuta, communications officer for Rewilding Romania. "But these positions also offer a story. A story where the ending is yet to be written — and where those who take up the role can really help shape the narrative."
The ambassadors are deeply committed to this narrative-shaping work. Roxana Zaha speaks of making it her mission to be "a guardian of the values of the natural world," while Dana Rogoz emphasizes her belief in "the power of people to protect what they truly come to know and love." What unites them is recognition that the bison's return is more than an ecological milestone — it's a conversation starter about what Europe's wild future can be.