European Bison (or close relatives) were once an important part of the UK fauna, as the largest UK mammal, they had the strength to push down trees and therefore had...
European (or forest) Bison
European bison are a species that is closest related to the European steppe bison, but in terms of living species, include Yak, Cattle and Guar. This (of course) excludes the American bison, which is incredibly closely related. They were hunted to extinction in the wild, in the early twentieth century. While the last of its species was lost from the Russian Caucasus in 1927, the last in Europe was lost form the Polish Białowieża Forest (this forest also extends into Belarus) in 1919, when soldiers without much food, killed the remaining population during the first world war. The population only survived, due to a zoo population of 54, which were descended from 12 individuals taken from the wild. The first reintroductions took place in 1951, with the first back into the Bialowieza forest in 1954.
At the current time, there is around 6200 wild European bison, (alongside a large captive population) spread across the range of points shown on the map. It should be noted, that this map is out of date, with a population of several hundred in Spain, France and even the start of a similar population in the UK, with several having been rehomed in Blean woods near Canterbury. This population classes the European bison as near threatened, and while this is a huge improvement in the last 75 or so years, however, the range is still hugely depleted on their former population. The map shows the range of the European or forest bison, however, the steppe bison was closely related and this animals range covers much of the rest of Europe, so the European bison is the closest species to fill its ecological niche.
These are large animals – weighing up to 800kg-1000kg, but in the past, they would have lived alongside mammoths rhino and a whole range of extinct species.
Below, you will find any articles written on this species in the past. As with many other species, there may not be too many at the current time, but I hope for this number to grow over time. Below this news list, we will have a list of destinations to see this species – this does not exist yet, but I hope to add it soon
Bison are to be released into Kent in a couple of years
In the not too distant past European bison were part of the British ecosystem. With the ability to browse trees and therefore to halt there expansion, and highly important ecosystem...
Is the UK going to start being more ambitious in the animals it chooses to reintroduce?
The UK has plans to start reintroducing bison to the UK. While this is very exciting, these are large animals and when they are allowed to roam free they could...
Białowieża forest on the border between Poland and Belarus is naturally rewinding- now bears
Białowieża forest is the last large forest that still stands, as a part of the primeval forests that once forested the majority of Europe.
Could Bialowlieza forest be destroyed by forests on borders?
Around the world we are in a period where there are lots of people struggling where they are. Whether due to weather or war or crime, there are significant numbers...
