European Bison transport
Since 1973 Tierpark Gera In Germany was involved In European bison breeding. First years were devoted to the breeding of lowland line, then it was switched to lowland-Caucasus line. For a few years the park aims to get back to lowland animals and all lowland-Caucasus bison were offered to reintroduction plan in Skolivski Beskid National Park (Ukraine), provided that Gera receives lowland animals. In Skolivski Beskid with support of Large Herbivore Foundation an acclimatization enclosure was built and only animals and permissions were still needed. Both were subject of concern of Mrs. Oksana Maryskevych. Thanks to her involvement Ukrainian authorities got interested in European bison and helped in obtaining required permissions to import the bison to the Ukraine.
As the European Bison Friends Society takes active part in the international project of establishment of European bison metapopulation in Eastern Carpathians, it coordinated the animals exchange. Three lowland bison were donated by Polish zoological gardens and the whole undertaking was jointly financed by the EBFS and Gera Tierpark.
In the morning of the 5th June from Warsaw Zoological Garden 2-years old female POWISŁA was taken. On the same day, in the evening, another female, POZIOMECZKA, was picked up from Leśny Park Kultury i Wypoczynku "Myślęcinek" in Bydgoszcz. On the next day the male POSTRON from Leśny Park Niespodzianek in Ustroń, joined the group. The bison were transported in wooden crates and in the morning, 7th June, they reached Gera. First thing they have done after realize was getting to know each other.
Transport of six lowland-Caucasus animals from Gera to Ukraine started on Tuesday, 9th of June. Three females - THYRA, THOSKA i THALIA, and males - THEO, THUNDERBIRD and the youngest, a yearling THASIDOS, reached the enclosure in Beskid on the next day. After no complications during the transport, the acclimatization was successful.
The whole operation was very complicated and sometimes made adrenaline level in blood raised. The most important thing is that despite small problems and failings, the animals, safe and sound reached their destination.
We are very thankful for the support of: Polish zoological gardens which donated the animals, Tierpark Gera for giving the European bison to reintroduction program in Carpathians. What more has to be underline is the involvement of Oksana Maryskevich and Jan Bauer in coordination and documentation preparing. We hope to stay informed about both herds.