Two groups of steppe marmots have just been released on Ukraine’s Tarutino Steppe, which is part of the extended Danube Delta rewilding landscape. Boosting the thriving population of marmots already here, the 18 animals will help to create a healthier, more functional steppe environment.

Rewilding Europe caught up with illustrator Jeroen Helmer to learn more about the background, workflow, and motivations of this uniquely gifted artist and committed rewilder.

At the beginning of July 2024, the Danube Delta Rewilders Camp, organized by Rewilding Ukraine and Rewilding Romania, welcomed 30 enthusiastic secondary school children from the local communities of the delta. The camp took place in Jurilovca, a charming village on the Romanian side of the delta.

The Rewilding Ukraine team have been carrying out efforts to restore the Tarutino Steppe since 2019. A social study carried out recently by the team found widespread support for rewilding among the residents of Borodino, a community which owns the steppe. The results of the study will help to guide future engagement as rewilding scales up.

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

Artificial nesting platforms are supporting the ongoing recovery of European Dalmatian pelican populations in the Danube Delta and beyond.

At the end of February, another crucial step was taken to deepen the collaboration between Rewilding Ukraine and the Borodino territorial community in preserving and ecologically restoring the Budzhak steppes, with the Tarutino steppe landscape reserve at its core. Two training seminars on rewilding for local residents were conducted in the Borodino community.

Taking place on March 20 with the theme #HopeintoAction, this year’s World Rewilding Day will celebrate rewilding and showcase its real-world impact. Let’s rewild now for nature, climate and people.

Can you see yourself joining a passionate and innovative team of people working to make Romania a wilder place? Would you like to use your skills and experience supporting the recovery of wild nature and wildlife populations across Romania, for the benefit of people and nature? If so, we might have the ideal job for you.

Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing war in Ukraine and associated restrictions, our team, in collaboration with partners, persevered in the mission to restore and rewild the magnificent Danube Delta region throughout 2023. From wetland restoration to wildlife comeback and nature education, the year was punctuated by numerous rewilding successes.