Location: Vanatori-Neamt Commune, Neamt County

“Dragos Voda” Bisons and Carpathian Fauna Reserve is one of the 4 such nature reserves from Romania and it’s also one of the biggest from Europe dedicated specially to the conservation of bisons. Located in the north of the Neamt County, in Vanatori-Neamt Commune, it represents one of the most visited places in the county.

The reservation was founded in 1968 and stretches on an area of approximately 11,500 ha – this is one of the four main protected areas in Vanatori-Neamt Nature Park.

From the chronicle displayed in the nature reserve we find the following things:

“The first bisons, three in number, were brought from Poland in 1970 and their names were Rarau, Roxana and Raluca.

In 1974 the first bisons calves were born in captivity. In the same year, the Romanian historical films “Jderi Brothers” and “Stephen the Great” were shot here.

In 1978 the reservation from Brasov was dissolved and they brought another male in Neamt, making up a total of 10 bisons. This was also the year when different other animals were brought in the nature reserve.

Starting with 2002 the reserve was included in a program that was meant to improve the life of the animals that lived here by expanding and improving the enclosure.”

Within the nature reserve we can also find specimens of Carpathian deer, rower deer, roe buck, fox, badger, rabbits, bears, wolves and fish species. In an area of approx. 4 hectares are found only 6 specimens of bisons, 2 males and 4 females that are housed in an enclosure. The rest of the animals roam free in the park that stretches on a surrounded area of 180 hectares of land.