Profesor Pucek
On September 13th passed away Professor Zdzisław Pucek, outstanding scientist and great intercessor of European bison conservation. For more than 50 years he was working in Mammal Research Institute, since 1963 as its director after the death of Professor August Dehnel The subjects of his research were various mammal species including the European bison. He inspired a number of scientists to start working with this wonderful mammalian species. In 1984, the IUCN has established the Bison Specialist Group, and Professor Pucek was appointed as the Chair of this important international body. During next 15 years the BSG worked on European as well as American bison until the group has split into separate one for every species. The major goal of Professor Pucek was coordination of activities of people, organizations and countries, focused on assuring the safe future for the species Bison bonasus. He also persuaded colleagues from Canada and United States to intensify their work towards the future of American bison. In the late eighties, Professor prepared first draft of Polish strategy for European bison, very useful in subsequent elaborations of the document. Thanks to his personal commitment, an important workshop during which threats for European bison were analyzed with simulation methods, was organized in 1995 at Miedzyzdroje. Under Professor's leadership the World Action Plan for European bison was prepared and published in 2004. One can tell that Professor Pucek was the rudder and to high degree the engine for all "bison people" not only in Poland but in the whole Europe.
In 2004, Białowieża National Park honored Professor with a medal "European Bison Friend".
I have personally met Professor Pucek in the beginning of the 80-ties, thanks to several coincidences. First of them, were some troubles with small rodents, breed at Mammal Research Institute. Professor Pucek asked then for advice of my Professor Tadeusz Sławiński, a specialist on laboratory animals breeding. They both met at Białowieża, and except rodent's problem, they also discussed other subjects. At that time Professor Pucek was seriously worried about the European bison genetics, and was looking for a person, who could initiate genetic analysis of pedigree data on the species. I was then a fresh graduate on zootechnics, working on mating program for Hucul horses. Both Professors agreed that I can deal with pedigree data on the bison, so after the decision was announced to me, I started on transferring hundreds of records to computer's memory, which at that time were not PCs. I visited Białowieża many times and spend hours talking with Professor. Those long afternoon and evening discussions, questions, results interpretations were very important and helpful for me. Professor offered me infinite amount of time, patience and during those very matter-of-fact discussions a lot of my working hypotheses were ruined under Professor's arguments supported by freshly published papers. My PhD thesis, focusing on the problem of inbreeding and its consequences, developed quickly under eyes of both Professors. During the most stressful time for me - the seminar at Białowieża, I had possibility to feel how tutelary and helpful was the Professor Pucek support.
The most hectic time was during the preparation of Species Action Plan. All details in the text, every interpretation, every information were carefully discussed, because Professor knew how important this document will be for all people involved in bison conservation. I am missing already those long talks at Białowieża with Professor, but I am sure that his work will be continued.
Wanda Olech
Odszedł Roman Lewsza
On February 23, 2007 Mr. Roman Lewsza, who was the employee of Białowieża National Park for many years and took care about European bison herd, passed away. Below some memories of Mr. Lewsza's friend, Mr. Janusz Sochacki.
"I met Roman a few years ago. On the way to Białowieża, me and my brother promised to help a hitch-hiking girl in condition that she tells us an interesting story. She talked about the man who owns an European bison and she showed us how to get to him. During our way back we decided to check whether the story was true. We get to village Zamosze and found out that Mr Lewsza, as well as his bison were true, although I have never seen the animal apart from a movie and newspaper publication. In 2005 the tourists found dead body of European bison and Roman identified "his" bison, named "Bysiu". Such close relationship between European bison and man is very rare. I would like to have such "Bysiu" myself.
Our contact with Roman resulted in several visits in Zamosze, walking through the forest together, feeding the bisons and taking photos of them Roman was very often asked to help with some television productions and photographers visits. He appeared several times in reportages about European bison. Apart from feeding, he was responsible for meadows maintenance and producing hay for bison, so his work continued all year long. I had possibility to be experienced how hard work it was but I never had problem with cold, rather the contrary.
I could say that Roman was the child of forest. When his mother was about to deliver, his father took her to the hospital. But Roman hurried to this world and by accident got born in the forest under an old oak. And the forest was important to him until death. He was born there, grew up, was working in the forest whole his life, and died in the forest too. But little bit too early. He was only 51."
Janusz Sochacki