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Meeting of Chief Veterinary Officers with the bison in the background
Date: 25.10.2011
Regarding Polish Presidency of the EU, the extraordinary meeting of the Working Party of Chief Veterinary took place in the last week of September in Cracow. Despite the busy agenda the time to familiarize the participants with our largest animal was found. Lecture on the current situation of E. bison, protection and development of the species and also plans for increasing the population number gave Wanda Olech - the President of European Bison Friends Society.
Professor Olech paid also attention on the legal status of E. bison in some European countries, where it is sometimes treated as a cattle, sometimes as an exotic animal. The problem with the proper treatment of E. bison regards to wrong breeding practices and the establishment of unsuitable enclosures, lacking large grazing areas and high fences.
It is impossible, for example, to touch the bison without its immobilization, or transport it without special transport containers, etc.
E. bison is completely different than a cow - said Wanda Olech - an unique, not a farm animal. An equal status of E bison within whole EU, taking into account specificity of this species have to be worked out. It will allow to the creation of proper living conditions for the E. bison in all European countries.
Chief Veterinary Officers visited the Bison Breeding Centre in Niepołomice - they really enjoyed animals and the enclosure. Many professional questions were asked too.
General Assembly of European Bison Friends Society
Date: 25.10.2011
On Wednesday evening, September 21, the eve of the IX International Conference "Wisents, Forests, Lakes," took place the General Assembly of European Bison Friends Society members. The General Assembly was leading by Wojciech Bielecki. At the beginning of the meeting, previous President Wanda Olech presented a Board report of the activities during the last 3 years - since the year 2009, when last General Assembly was conducted. List of achievements and initiatives taken by the Society looked impressive. Jerzy Kita congratulated Wanda Olech and paid attention on her impressive contribution in activities of the Society. Also Audit Committee presented its report.
Members accepted the Board and Audit Committee reports by voting. Afterwards Wanda Olech was again elected as President of the European Bison Friends Society. It is worth noticing, that she received 100% of the votes. Congratulations!
The new Board and the Audit Commission were also elected. General Assembly introduced two amendments to the EBFS Statute.
A nice incident was awarding the Honorary Titles for members of the Society. Mr. Jan Raczyński and Mr. Tadeusz Natkański, two very well-deserved individuals were awarded.
Official, detailed minutes of the General Assembly of 2011 coming soon on our website.
About the european bison and nature in Lutowiska
Date: 23.08.2011
The fifth Day of European Bison, which took place on Saturday 13 August in Lutowiska, in the Bieszczady Mountains, the organizers may definitely consider successful. It was also successful for European Bison Friends Society,
which set a promotional booth for the second time. Throughout the duration of the event the booth was visited by local inhabitants and tourists, wanting to learn more about the activities the Society and about the animal, on which focuses its activities. read more...
Travelling with bison
Date: 05.05.2011
First of all reasons for bison travelling is to increase genetic variability of the species as well as the establishment of new breeding centers or enlarging herds and reintroduction. Roaming and changing sites is consistent with natural behavior of those animals... więcej...
Spanish breeders want to have more European bison
Date: 05.05.2011
Last year seven wisents from Poland were transported by European Bison Friends Society to San Cebrián de Mudá - small town located in Cantabrian Mountains in Spain (we wrote about this in July 2010). Animals coming was a reason for a big event for residents and we were very cordially greeted. From this moment not only herd increased (two calves were born) but the interest in bison of Spanish breeders as well... więcej...
Conference in Goluchow
Date: 22.03.2011
On March 15, according to the plan, first of periodical workshops about bison conservation took place in the Forest Culture Center in Gołuchów. Meetings taking conservation of the West Pomerania bison population under special consideration.
Participants listened 5 lectures about: activities of the Forest Culture Center in Gołuchów, European and Polish bison situation end species threats, bison successful reintroduction in Bieszczady Mountains, the West Pomerania bison population and telemetric monitoring, which facilitating precise animals trails tracking, genetic researches and their meaning for proper animals mating - in order to avoid inbreeding.
Open form of the workshop favored asking the questions and instantaneous doubts resolving. Conference room was full especially because of the students of the Poznan universities participation. Unfortunately and unexpectedly invited representatives of local authorities weren't came. Absence of those people is a pity, this knowledge could be helpful for them. We are satisfied that students are interested about this topic - perhaps their future decisions after graduation will be crucial for the bison.
Next workshop of this cycle will be soon organized by European Bison Friends Society. We will inform about localization and time on our web site in appropriate advance.
Wisents, Forests, Lakes
Date: 21.03.2011
This Conference would be the ninth in the cycle of international meetings concerning the Wisent. The conference will take place in North-East Poland in the region of many lakes and beautiful landscapes, with ancient atmosphere of Jatwinger and Prussians backwoods. European Bison Breeding Center in the Forest District Borki of picturesque Borecka Forest was established in 1953. Bison live there in freedom since 1977, and exhibition enclosure in Wolisko is visited by many tourist spending holidays in this scenic spot of Poland. During the conference, planned are presentations and discussion about present situation of the Wisent, as well as a sightseeing of Borecka Forest.
More details, invitation and program.
Diet for European Bison - no candies
Date: 28.02.2011
European bison - like children - like sweets. In their case it is a forage containing grain. They eat it gladly, because it is tasty and nutritious food, but unfortunately, not everything tasty is healthy as well. Research and observation have shown that feeding animals this way, especially in large quantities, can be fatal to their health. There were even cases of death in German breeding centers... Read more
European bison or not?
Date: 01.02.2011
European Bison Friends Society received an electrifying message: a lonely European bison appeared at Mazovia! Footprints, large and quite distinctive, were recognized on January 18 nearby the Vistula river, near Świder estuary, about 20 km from Warsaw. Also droppings were found. This is a solitary area and we have no other news about this incident. Although there are indications that this might be an European bison, specialists who saw the pictures sent to us are not unanimous... Read more
It all began in Poznan
Date: 24.01.2011
This proved dr Jan Śmiełowski invited for the first "Around the bison" meeting this year, telling the numerous audience "How Poznan Zoo initiated a process of restitution of the European bison in Poland.". The author identified himself as a wildlife enthusiast and fan of zoological gardens. He served as director of the facility in Poznan for three years. Privately he collects folders from the ZOOs around the world - he has around 6000 of them. Dr Śmiełowski reminded devoted people who revived European bison breeding in Poland. He devoted a lot of attention to very deserving Kazimierz Szczerkowski... Read more
European bison large count
Date: 17.01.2011
Winter is the best time for counting European bison in wild. In practice the only one, because they can be observed without special effort only to the end of March, before trees and shrubs cover with leaves. Bison are eager to gather around feeders prepared for them. They are visible in the clearings, and other exposed places, and it is also possible to watch their traces in the snow. Counting is carried out repeatedly during winter period because the data obtained on particular days vary. For example, in the Forestry Borki, in Borecka forest one day 70 animals come to the feeders, another day it is 63, and when it gets warmer and the snow is gone - you may not see any wisents.
In the Westpomeranian region the way of counting of two groups living there - in the military training ground and in the Forestry Mirosławiec - is different. While the European bison on the military training ground, due to the terrain conditions are relatively easy to count and their exact number is known, herd in Mirosławiec is more skittish and forming a natural structure, therefore more difficult to count. Observers have to put much more effort and have a good knowledge on the habits of animals, to keep final specifications for the European Bison Pedigree Book the most reliable.
Where bison go
Date: 17.01.2011
In the near future European Bison Friends Society is organizing a large transport of wisent. Animals will go to our southern neighbors. Six females from Bialowieza and one bull from Smardzewice will travel to the Czech Republic. Five bison are expected in the new breeding enclosure in Mimoń under supervision of Czech Military Forest , while the other ones - by a private breeder... Read more
Novelty in Publications
Date: 03.01.2011
In New Year we would like present a new idea. In folder "Publications" you can find the first number of "EBFS News" and within it summary of activity of last year, some new information and especially prepared materials. "EBFS News" will be presented on website twice a year. Enjoy reading...