Large Herbivores
In Saksfjed Wilderness, you can encounter wild Galloway oxen and Exmoor horses at work.
Large animals - also known as megafauna - play a crucial role in nature. Their size allows them to influence their surroundings to such an extent that they are often referred to as "landscape engineers." For example, they help keep vulnerable habitats such as meadows, grasslands, and wetlands open by grazing on vegetation.
At the same time, their activities - grazing, dunging, scraping, and trampling the soil and vegetation - create immense landscape variation, providing habitats for hundreds of other species, including rare butterflies, heat-loving insects, orchids, and amphibians.
Management
The animal population in the Wilderness is managed with minimal human intervention, following the same approach as the rest of the area.
This means that the animals reproduce naturally, ensuring an optimal grazing balance for biodiversity. It also enhances their well-being by allowing them to maintain a natural herd structure, including parental care, social dynamics, and hierarchy. The animals are, of course, monitored in accordance with animal welfare laws, and the population is regulated to match the available food resources in the area.
Respect the Animals
You should always keep a minimum distance of 50 meters from the animals.
Additionally, do not feed them, not even a small treat. Many animals cannot tolerate human food, and feeding them can alter their natural behavior, making them approach people and potentially causing disturbances for other visitors. These are hardy breeds that have lived outdoors their entire lives and naturally keep their distance from humans—please respect this.
For any inquiries regarding the animals, please contact their owners. Contact information can be found on signs posted at all entrances to the enclosures.