In 2019, officials released 17 water buffalo on a Danube island to restore nature. Years later, their pools and grazing were helping insects, fish and amphibians flourish

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.Why 17 water buffalo were released on Ermakov IslandErmakov Island covers about 3,500 hectares and is part of the Danube Biosphere Reserve.