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Wisents at the Kraansvlak
An unique landscape, which we should not allow to


disappear forever. Through the re-introduction of
Wisent watching
Two thousand years ago wild wisents lived in large
wisents we expect openness to return. The animals
In various locations (see map on reverse side) you
parts of Europe. From South-England to the depths of
eat grass, young trees and shrubs. They debark even
will have a chance of seeing the wisents. Close to the
Russia and from South-Sweden to the Pyrenees.
full-grown trees and rub off barks from trunks, which
watering place an observation post has been made. A
Although remains of wisents have never been found
kills the trees sometimes. The animals also love
fenced footpath across the grazing area directs
in the Netherlands itself, they have been found just
taking sand baths, which may enable the wind to
visitors to this special spot.
across the border in Belgium and Germany, so
blow the loose sand again. In this way wisents have a
Along the southern side of the wisent area runs the
wisents are very likely to have lived in the
different impact on vegetation than Konik horses,
`Fisherman's path'. From this foot and cycle path it
Netherlands too.
cows, rabbits and other grazers.
is also possible to take a look at the area. Using

binoculars will increase chances of `spotting' the
Since April 2007 they have been back to Dutch
wisents.
scenery, namely at Kraansvlak, part of the 3800 ha

National Park South-Kennemerland consisting of old
More information: www.wisenten.nl
and young coastal sand dunes. The 220 ha Kraansvlak
area has always been closed to the public. Now that
the wisents have come to live here wisents and the
public will remain separated, except during guided
excursions, which are planned as of 2008.

Protected species
The wisent was almost extinct in Europe. Fortunately
a breeding programme was started in 1923 and
currently wisent population consists of more than


3000 individuals distributed over European natural

Apart from the efforts of participating parties, the
areas and breeding centres. In this way the current
Wisents love taking sand baths, thus providing a
wisent project has been made possible through
project helps this last wild European bovine animal
counterforce against overgrowing of open dune
support from:
to survive.
areas.

Research
In order to gain knowledge and experience of wisents
PWN, Stichting Duinbehoud, ARK and Stichting


Kritisch Bosbeheer are working together. From 2007
until 2012 the impact of wisents on dune habitat as
well as their natural foraging behaviour will be

studied. In addition, it will be studied how wisents
react to the public and interact with other grazers.
Groningen University is conducting research into
social behaviour of these bovine animals and their
use of space. Where do they live, where do they
graze and where do they take sand baths? Research is
also done into the effects of wisents on vegetation

and landscape. Radboud University Nijmegen studies

the impact of this newcomer on the existing fauna.
More natural sand dunes
The results of the study will be made available to
Due to various factors the dunes are becoming
managers of natural areas in and outside the
overgrown by grasses and scrub, preventing the sand
Netherlands. The first results show that the dune
from blowing. Many characteristic dune plant species
lake is frequently visited by the wisents in order to
and animals disappear. Open dunes, however, are
graze there. In addition, they stay in open areas
internationally important and protected in Europe.
more often than expected.

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