Interest in breeding is growing in Europe
National Parks, nature parks, ZOOs, hosts of public and private forests as well as private breeders in many European countries more and more often express their interest in European bison breeding. To co-ordinate such activities and support them, the European Bison Friends Society has organized in Warsaw an international meeting, attended by specialists from Germany, Holland, Russia, Romania, Sweden, the Czech and Slovak Republics. The result of the meeting is a long-term European Bison Conservation Program for Europe. The Society chaired by prof. Wanda Olech will be responsible for implementing the Program.
- We want everybody who has the bison to know that he is not alone, so that he could count on our care and support, also financial - says prof. Olech. - At the same time, however, he will need to adapt to specific, clearly defined requirements for breeders. Must, inter alia, to create appropriate conditions for bison, convenient for these animals , and must - as extremely important - to cooperate with the Pedigree Book, because the bison that is not registered, is excluded from the Program.
European Bison Conservation Program is, specifying tentatively, a network for the mutual direct contact, rapid transfer of information between countries, linking all people of different specialties who are seriously involved in breeding European bison. In each of the countries network will be represented by a coordinator, a person having the best understanding of local considerations and most familiar with the local problems. Coordinator will be in constant touch with breeders. Coordinators will meet at least once a year.
This initiative will certainly improve the quality of living conditions of the bison, both in captivity and in the wild. It will also help in making decisions for example on a transfer of individuals among the breeders. And probably also thanks to it, these royal animal will increase in numbers.
Text: Elżbieta Strucka