Bison online, or rescued national pride

Another entry on our blog, we cordially invite you to read the post, this time about bison! Poland is a country known for the presence on its territory of the largest land mammal in all of Europe – the bison. Without a doubt, this is a fact to be proud of – as not everyone can watch the King of the Forest in his natural environment. With a population of more than 2,000 individuals, the population continues to grow, and the attraction and desire to see the bison draws many foreign tourists to Poland each year. This mammal has a very long history, which was not always as colorful as it is today.

Historical bison

The turn of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries was a very favorable time for the bison inhabiting the territory of present-day Poland – it was then that the first order for the protection of these mammals was introduced. Their presence at that time was recorded not only in the Bialowieza Forest, but also in the Niepołomice and Sandomierz forests. Over the next 400 years, the population increased, and in 1857 it numbered nearly 1,900 individuals. Despite the gradual increase in numbers, very black and sad for the bison turned out to be the 20th century. The First World War resulted in the almost complete extinction of these European mammals. According to records, in early 1919 there were only 4 free-living bison left in Poland, while a few months later the remains of a female bison were found, which turned out to be the last individual of the species.

Four years later, in 1923, Professor Jan Sztolcman decided to establish the Society for the Protection of the Bison, whose main goal was to save the species from total extinction and create a census of all living individuals in the world. Despite the extinction of free-living individuals, bison found in private zoos proved useful for this purpose. Their total number was estimated at 29 males and 25 females.

The activities of the Society for the Protection of the Bison bore their first fruit in 1929, when two bison were released into the Bialowieza Forest. By the time World War II began, as many as 16 individuals had been recorded in pedigree books in the same forest. The number increased dynamically from year to year, and in 1971 it was already more than 200 individuals. The most recent data from 2019 informs that each year several dozen young bison are born, and the total number of these animals in Poland is already more than 2,000 individuals, which classifies it as the largest population of this species in the world.

Bison, what kind of animal is it?

In the 19th century, the first mammal called the bison was bred in Poland. It is a cross between a male bison and a female domestic cattle. The weight of this animal is up to twice that of the King of the Forest, and its characteristic features include great strength, rapid growth, resistance to disease and poor climatic conditions. Currently, there are only a few specimens of the bison species in Poland

Bison - an interspecies hybrid of bison and domestic cattle. — Bison – an interspecies hybrid of the bison and domestic cattle.

Forests for the bison

The bison population is gradually increasing from year to year, but the number of individuals does not yet allow to define the species as safe. In view of this fact, a number of projects have been developed to increase their overall protection including public awareness. One of the programs is the one combining the activities of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, the State Forests, the Bison Lovers Association and the Bialowieza National Park.

The project’s primary endeavor is the gradual spread of the bison species beyond Poland’s borders, as well as the dispersal of existing herds. In addition, educational campaigns are being organized to spread the idea of protecting these mammals among both children and adults. Suitable conditions for the bison are gradually being created in the forests, and their constant monitoring makes it possible to determine the effects of previous actions taken, as well as the health of these animals. Increasing forest areas is also a very important initiative.

King of the Forest in numbers

The bison is extremely interesting not only for its story with a happy ending, but also for other aspects of its life. As the largest European land mammal, it boasts a length of more than 3 meters and a height of up to 180 centimeters. The animal’s sizable body is covered with dark brown fur, consisting of as many as three layers. This feature allows it to survive even the coldest winter without problems. The male bison is much more massive than the female – male individuals reach a weight of up to 800 kilograms, while females only 540 kilograms. The life cycle of a bison lasts from 15 to 24 years, pregnancy lasts about 9 months, and a young individual weighs from 15 to 35 kilograms.

Facts about bison less known

Bison have a diurnal lifestyle, usually consisting of quietly consuming food. It is worth knowing that an adult individual takes in up to 50 kilograms of food in a day, which consists of 80 percent green plants, grass, twigs, tree bark and bushes. Despite consuming such a huge amount of food and a very massive build, this mammal can accelerate up to 60 kilometers per hour. An interesting fact is that despite their very poor sense of sight, bison have a well-developed sense of smell, and in addition, they have no natural enemies.

Close encounters with bison

At present, bison can be seen both in specially created parks and in the wild. The most popular and touristic place is the Bison Show Reserve in Bialowieza Forest, where these animals live in semi-natural conditions – fenced, very large enclosures.

Another very interesting initiative turned out to be the live transmission of the State Forests, thanks to which the King of the Forest can be observed online from your own room. The camera was installed on the territory of the Browsk Forest District (Regional Directorate of State Forests in Bialystok) and covers one of the clearings, which is taken care of all year round by foresters. Bison are very eager to visit this glade especially in winter, when employees of the forest district also put out food for the animals there. Transmission from the glade is available at any time of the day, but also at night, when the observation is made possible by infrared reflectors. The technology is one hundred percent safe for bison, which are unable to see light at this frequency. For those with a broader interest in wildlife, it will be quite a treat to be able to observe other animals that live in the Browsk Forest District as well.

Bieszczady Land of the European Bison

The Bieszczady, right after the Bialowieza Forest, is the environment where bison are found in the wild. Thanks to initiatives on the part of the Muczne forestry and the program ” In situ protection of the bison in Poland – southern part”, these animals can be admired in their natural environment in specially built enclosures. Viewing terraces have been made available for visitors, allowing them to observe the King of the Forest regardless of current weather conditions. More than 50 years old, the enclosure turns out to be one of the most popular attractions in the Bieszczady. The main goals of the aforementioned project were the complete restoration of the “Upper San” herd, which years earlier became extinct due to the deadly tuberculosis that prevailed at the time. A very important aspect of the project is also the promotion of the State Forests, nature conservation and active education. As in the case of the Browsk Forest District, the Bieszczady bison can be viewed online at the website of the Stuposiany Forest District, part of which is the aforementioned Muczne forestry with the enclosure located there.

Proud monuments

The bison is an animal to which one feels respect, but also pride, and for this reason it is a symbol of many Polish towns and villages such as Bialowieza, Sokolka or Narewka, but also of the entire Hajnówka district and the Kalisz region. Several monuments depicting the King of the Forest have also been erected in Poland. The most popular are those located in Spala and Zambrów. The bison also represents the logo of the Bialowieza National Park, of which it is the main attraction.

Poland as the home of the bison

A very interesting and important piece of information is that Poland is home to the largest bison population in the world. Such a fact obliges individuals such as the State Forests, but also all citizens, to actively protect this animal. The history of this animal has not always had such a happy resolution so far, it is up to us to make sure it does not come full circle.