The spectacular conservation project goes back to the initiative of Richard Prinz zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg; he first had the vision of the free roaming behemoths in his managed forest.
The native fauna has become more complete with the return of wisents to Wittgenstein and further resettlement of long vanished species in the region. In the centre there are the unique and non-profit efforts of the House of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg.
It is thanks to the family, that in addition to the wisent, also the pygmy owl and the black stork have found their home again in Wittgenstein. Now at least five pairs of black storks have re-settled to here. And, with red deer, wild boar, moufflon and deer, the region offers a fascinating sanctuary for large mammals, widespread, rare and endangered.