Hațeg Bison Reserve

About Hațeg Bison Reserve

At a glance: Zoos and aquariums in Hațeg, Hunedoara County. The visit takes 45 min. Information verified on 10 October 2026.

The Hațeg Bison Reserve, also called Hațeg-Slivuț, is an enclosure for European bison in the Slivuț forest, a few kilometres from the town of Hațeg. In the first days of November 1958 the bull Podarec and the cow Polonka arrived here from Poland, and the cow gave birth to the first calf born in Romania after the species had long since disappeared from the country. The custom of the place is that calves born in Romania are given names beginning with "Ro": the first were Roman, Retezat and Romina. Dozens of animals have left Hațeg for other places; those at Vânători-Neamț and Neagra-Bucșani, among others, started from here.

The site is run by Romsilva, through the Hunedoara Forestry Directorate. The bison live in an enclosure of about 3 hectares, in the middle of an oak and hornbeam forest of around 40 hectares, on the edge of the Hațeg Depression, within the Hațeg Country Dinosaur Geopark. In 2025 the enclosure got a new fence and a gravel path around it. In June 2026 Romanița was born, the first female after seven years in which only males were born.

Good to know before you go

Getting there

By car: the reserve is ~4 km from the centre of Hațeg, on an asphalted forest road that branches off the DN66 (Hațeg–Petroșani) and runs for about 3 km. The road was widened and asphalted in 2021 up to the enclosure; cars only reach the cabin at the gate. Deva is ~70 km away and Petroșani ~55 km.

Public transport: I found no line that reaches the gate; from Hațeg you can take a taxi or drive your own car.

Where to park

There is a small car park at the cabin at the gate, from where you walk a few minutes along an asphalted path to the enclosure. I found no information on any charge or on how full it gets at weekends.

Fees & discounts

I found no ticket price confirmed by the administrator. The press in recent years gives sums between 7 and 15 lei for adults and between 5 and 7 lei for pupils, students and pensioners, but the articles are old and contradict each other. The ticket is usually paid at the cabin at the gate. Ask before you go.

Rules

Stay behind the fence and do not enter the enclosure. Do not feed the bison, shout at them, or throw stones or objects at them. Speak quietly and do not leave litter. Follow the staff's instructions.

Facilities

cabin at the gate · no information on toilets or pushchair access