European bison exchange
Realization of coordinated conservation program for European bison, aiming to separating two genetic lines, included exchange of all Lowland-Caucasian bison from one of German enclosures to Lowland animals from Poland during May 20-22, organized by European Bison Friends Society. European bison in Kropp (Schleswig-Holstein): 2-years old male VAMPIR and female VALBALLA of the same age, were appointed to be exchanged with animals from Poznan Zoo (2-years old female POGODYNKA and 3-years old male POKAZ) and Lodz Zoo (2-years old female POLĘDWICA). German couple augmented free-living herd in Polish Carpathians, running under management of Regional Forestry Directorate form Krosno and Carpathian Wildlife Research Station, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences in Ustrzyki Dolne. Organization of all participating institutions, conducting needed veterinary tests and obtaining all essential documents took some time, but all transport was organized still in spring - period the most convenient for transporting European bison regarding the temperature.
On May 20 about 7 a.m. the car to take first of cows, POLĘDWICA, was in Lodz Zoo. After preliminary arrangements, with help of Zoo employees in preparing proper transportation crate, we drove up for our first passenger.
She was waiting in the enclosure and very quickly entered to the crate - one of three borrowed from Kobiór Forest District. POLĘDWICA regarding the age wasnt of very impressive size, so even well adapted crate had to have reduced space for water bowl, to avoid possibility of dangerous putting out the head. With use of a fork lift the crate was loaded on the car and fixed. After exchange of all documents, signing and sealing everything and providing POLĘDWICA with water, hay and fodder beets we started the journey to Poznan.
About noon we arrived to Poznan, where zoological garden is undoubtedly very beautiful, placed in a park with large space and many trees. Our next passenger, bull named POKAZ, was waiting in a small enclosure ending a catching pen (a special corridor placed in the backdoor of bison enclosure), prepared for the journey.
Soon after opening the crate the bull was inside, although there was need of some encouragement like fresh forage. Catching and putting into the crate his junior companion POGODYNKA was also quick and easy. Both bison were marked with small electronic chips. After collecting documents on the health state of the animals the crates were loaded on the vehicle. Soon after the trio started the journey to their new home in Germany.
The weather was sunny but not hot, and because of depart form Poznan afternoon we arrived in Schleswig-Holstein between 1 and 2 in the night. Our animals had to wait for unloading till the dusk. In the morning first employees of Weidelandschaften e.V, an NGO that takes care of the enclosure and works for protection and research on nature-friendly use of open and semi-open grounds, arrived on this former military area in Kropp.
The bison were released into a special depot with a small outside run. Initially the bison will be kept in a separate enclosure to adapt to new conditions, before joining the herd.
The bison in Kropp have excellent conditions, the enclosure project enables individual care whenever its needed. The bison have a large pasture and a part of the forest. But one of the aims of the enclosure, part from breeding is showing them to the tourists, who can use special seightseeing towers. Former military area provides excellent conditions for breeding not only European bison but also other ungulates, that need a big area for grazing. Apart form the bison in separate range there is Highland and Galloway cattle.
Now this place became new home of our trio from Polish zoological gardens. After some preparing with the crates and a short break, we started loading of young couple VAMPIR and VALBALLA.
Late afternoon the next stage of the operation started and we departed to Poland. This time instead of fodder beets the animals were provided with special pellets for ruminants, which the bison got used to in Germany and will have to leave this habit in Carpathian forest.
In the night even on German highways it happens to experience accidents and traffic jams so we spent one hour to drive through one kilometer. But still at night we crossed the Polish border. We aimed directly to Wola Michowa in Komańcza Forestry District, where acclimatization enclosure was built for Lowland-Caucasian line animals for releasing purposes. In the enclosure of 5ha area in beautiful low part of western Bieszczady already 4 bison from Ireland, that came a few weeks earlier, were waiting for new friends. The most important problem for our vehicle was to get as close as possible to the gate of the enclosure. In this mountain, hard conditions it was very difficult. To transport the crates inside the enclosure special vehicles were used. Only this kind of equipment could cross steep paths and streams rapidity and slippy banks of which were inaccessible for typical vehicle. Although the weather was foggy and rainy, with help of many people form Komańcza Forest District, Carpathian Wildlife Research Station and nearby village, whole unloading was perfect. A couple of beautiful and strong animals quickly left the crates and started walking on green meadows to the bushes of enclosure. Astonished with this new, but attractive environment, slowly moved away from the audience from time to time looking back.
In a while in the distant and covered with fog skirt of forest four Irish bison also appeared, seemed to be very interested in their new neighbors. After couple of days all six animals were grazing together.
All operation proceeded quickly and without significant problems. In this kind of activity it is always a question of large money involved. But costs are inevitable if we want to save these gorgeous and still endangered animals for future generations. In the future the European Bison Friends Society will continue this kind of activity, as future of the bison is still dependant on men.
Łukasz Poławski