After all male bison in Zalissia National Nature disappeared during Russian invasion, WWF launches campaign to translocate bull bison and save herd from extinction
The European bison is one of the world’s most endangered large mammals and the herbivore is protected on the European level. Photo for representation: iStock The war between Ukraine and Russia has threatened the European bison population with extinction. This is particularly true for a national park near Kyiv, where finding mates for the endangered female-only herd has become critical. A matchmaking campaign by a wildlife conservation group may be the only way to protect the species.
The European bison, also known as wisent, is one of the world’s most endangered large mammals and the herbivore is protected on the European level.
The species plays an ecological role in maintaining a mosaic of forested areas and landscapes crucial for ensuring the survival of biodiversity and building resilience against climate change. Bison helps to maintain ecological corridors, enabling migration of species such as brown bear, wolf, lynx, among others.
Uncontrolled and excessive hunting had pushed the European bison to the edge of extinction between the 17th and 19th centuries in European countries, including Ukraine. However, rigorous conservation efforts helped to slowly revive the lost population in natural forest landscapes.
There were 21 adult bison in Zalissia National Nature Park, Ukraine when the full scale invasion by Russia began in February 2022, according to WWF Central and Eastern Europe.
The national park, just north of Kyiv, was right in the way and the region became an area of intense fighting during the initial months. This directly affected the general status of the European bison — not a single male has survived in the national park since then.
Now, finding a male mate for the female-only herd is critical for the survival of the population. Without a bull, Zalissia’s herd is doomed to extinction.
“The national park was (and is now again) completely fenced, but during its occupation in March 2022, the fence was damaged, which resulted in the disappearance of some bison, including all the adult males. This was confirmed by the park staff in the following months after the deoccupation (April 2022),” said WWF in an email query.
According to a statement issued by the organisation, the animals were brought to the Zalissia National Nature Park in 1967 from Bialowieza forest, located in Poland. “Eight animals formed the Zalissia subpopulation, which still lives in semi-free conditions. The fenced area of the reserve is huge — 14,800 hectares — but in March 2022, a significant part of the area was destroyed as a result of the war,” the statement read.
Irene Lucius, regional conservation director for WWF Central and Eastern Europe, said the organisation has identified two male bison from the Vinnytsia region in the west of Kyiv, which provides hope for the herd.
“However, the distance between Kyiv and the National Park is about 300 kilometres and bison alone cannot take the long, arduous journey,” she said. “Unlike humans, long-distance relationships do not work for bison.”
To address the issue, the organisation has started a donation campaign called “300 km to love and saving bison”. The initial cost of relocating the two males is expected to be 10,000 EUR (about $10,764.85), so people have been invited to donate to the cause, said Bohdan Vykhor, CEO of WWF Ukraine.
Read more: Global Eco Watch: European Bison to be introduced into Kentish woodland
The park territory is screened and de-mined and conservationists are looking to restore the bison population.
Lucius said the bison males will be chosen by experts visually on the basis of their habitus (Tendency or inclination for animal growth), maturity age and good health condition. “Their age must be over eight years. The standard vet procedures will be met, including the parasitological tests, professional examination of the animal’s condition, enclosure quarantine before release, etc,” she told Down To Earth.
Bison have a gestation period of almost nine months and usually breed in September. The experts said the herd recovery will entirely depend on the breeding success of the translocated males.
“If it goes successfully, we may hope for several newborn calves in just two-three years. To reach the pre-war population of eight grown-up bison, at least 8-10 years of time is needed,” Lucius said.
However, translocating the two male bison is the only hope to revive the lost population.
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