Vienna, Austria – Two female water buffalo from Schönbrunn Zoo have begun grazing in the Leiser Berge Nature Park, taking on the role of natural “landscape gardeners” across a four-hectare area of reeds, grasses and trees. The one-year-old animals are shaping the vegetation with every step and every bite.

Alexander Ernst, managing director of the Leiser Berge Nature Park, said: “The animals ensure near-natural grazing – entirely without intensive human intervention. This form of landscape management builds on the historical role of large herbivores that shaped natural habitats over millennia. They prevent scrub encroachment, create small-scale structures, and thus promote the development of diverse habitats. Numerous native animal and plant species benefit from this.”

The two Schönbrunn water buffalo form the foundation of a new water buffalo population in the Weinviertel region.

Jennifer Kraus, managing director of the startup Meine Blumenwiese (My Flower Meadow) and the project’s content and financial partner, said: “The water buffalo are an essential building block in restoring the wild heart of the Weinviertel. We are extremely grateful to the zoo for entrusting us with two of their animals.”

The buffalo were relocated at the end of September. After a short acclimatization period on their own pasture, they have settled well into the nature park.

In the future, the animals will live in the Wild Solutions Park within the Leiser Berge Nature Park.

Zoo Director Dr. Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said: “It’s wonderful that, through the successful keeping and breeding of domestic water buffalo at the zoo, we can bring large herbivores back to the Weinviertel. We are very proud of our continuous and successful breeding program. We are currently delighted with two calves. These little buffalo are siblings of the animals that moved to the Leiser Berge Nature Park and are now strengthening our herd again.”

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