SGGW Scientists help the European bison restitution
The Polish European bison (wisent) went to Spain again. On January 10, eight wisents from four Polish breeding centres started their long journey to the The European Bison Conservation Center in Spain (EBCC). The EBCC, remaining in regular contact with SGGW scientists from the Institute of Animal Sciences, is to take care of the species. Specialists supervise the animal selection and the course of transport.
Preparation for the transport began in 2021, as all animals had to be examined, and required documents, i.e. veterinary certificates or permission to export the species protected by GDOŚ (The General Directorate for Environmental Protection), had to be received.
The destination places were: La Serreta, registered in the Bison Pedigree Book and the new seat near San Rafael, Finca Venta Cornejo y Las Hoyadas. Both breeding farms are located in the Province of Segovia, Spain. Currently, there are 24 wisents in La Serreta, mostly from Poland. The breeding raises only European bison (wisent).
European bison selected for export come from the four Polish centres. Those were; POGAJEK 14393 and POGAJEK 14727 from the Model Animal Pen in Gołuchów, POLINKA II 13708 and POSIA 13708 from the Bison Breeding Centre in Niepołomice, POTNAR 13713 and PLACUCH 14072 from Pszczyna – Jankowice (Kobiór Forest District), and POZNAJKA II 14542 and POLENKA II 14543 from the Warsaw Zoological Garden.
Animals were transported in the same truck, but each of them was placed in a separate wooden box. Remarkably, such a method of bison transport has been used for over 150 years. In 1929, the first two European bison purchased from the Berlin Zoological Garden were brought to Białowieża Forest in similar wooden boxes. The boxes are designed to ensure animal safety and peace. During transport, bison can lie down, however the box is narrow enough to forbid the animal to turn around. That is important for wisent safety, as too much space allows animals to struggle and may lead to injuries.
The main purpose of the European bison exchange is to increase the current range of the species and to create its new locations. Bison transports also strive to prevent mating of closely related individuals, so crucial when breeding a species with extremely low genetic variability.
Over recent years, nearly 100 Polish European bison have been sent to foreign breeding centres and free-living populations in Spain, Switzerland, Bulgaria and Romania. We owe that to the efforts of SGGW specialists, State Forests and the Bison Lovers’ Association.
All together, since 1935, more than 450 Polish wisents have contributed to the restitution of the species outside our country. However, this requires constant cooperation both at the national and international levels.