The Return of the Bison: Europe’s Largest Wild Animal

It is time for us to take a deep dive into the story of one of Europe's most iconic species: The European Bison also known as żubr or wisent. This mighty bovine is Europe's largest animal and is also a keystone species that plays a very important role in its ecosystem. In this series we want to cover the story of their decline, recovery and how they now play a central role in Europe's rewilding ambitions.

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⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️
0:00 intro
1:05 Ecology
2:15: History
4:30 Current projects

🔎 ABOUT THIS VIDEO
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The bison is back. This is surely a reason to celebrate and showcase a species that's suffered such a tragic past. For anyone who's been lucky enough to witness them in the flesh, I'm sure you'll understand my giddiness for this an awe-inspiring species. But for those who haven't, I want to share more about my recent encounter with a herd of bison and also take a closer look at their unique story. From their historical decline to recent revival and the controversy surrounding reintroductions, the European Bison is taking a leading role in rewilding the landscape of present day Europe.

[Braun]

As a child I remember seeing the small group in the Basel zoo, it was then I learned that this group was part of a programme to create a gene pool to allow reintroduction, someday, in their environment.
Today that day finally is here.
It was in 1960s I first saw them.

[filipsmiljic]

I am Serbian and I am proud that this year the bison was reintroduced in my country in the National park "Fruška gora". Hopefully the group of five individuals will become a national pride. Great video!

[lewycraft]

It must be stressed, that Poland did a great job when it vomes to reintroduction of animals that were extinct or reallu close to it. Many reintroduction projects are going on right now in Poland, with Bisons, Wolfs, Bears, some burds of pray etc. But arguebly the most succesful of them all, was reintroduction of beaver, that went extinct in Poland in mid XX century, but now sits at comfortable population of few houndred thousand and is basicly in all rivers in the country.

[witostrowski]

I'm so proud that Poland have one of last remaining bits of ancient forest, that is home to magnificent eur. bison, bobcat, wolf, bear to name the few. Thank you, very informative programme.

[dadob]

Serbia got 5 Bisons recently, such a great news, people gave them names and media cover of this fantastic event was awesome, thank you Poland for giving us the best present ever :)

[blitz]

The recovery of both the European and North American Bison is to me one of the most inspirational stories of perseverance and preservation. NA Bison went all the way down to hear 325 individuals, and today we have half a million of these wonderful animals in the US alone.

[tiagodezoeten]

It is crazy that such a large and ecologically important species ended up extinct in the wild, just the scale of the ecological impact of their absence is mind boggling. On the other hand the opportunity for positive change is of the same magnitude which is very exciting!

[Aedony]

I had no Idea that there were so little of them left, they could've easily gone extinct and I'm so glad they are still on the planet

[madebywera]

We love our Bisons in Poland :) They are kind of a national symbol. They are called "Żubr" in Polish. We love them so much, that one of our best vodka's is called after them, or rather after "Bison grass" which they really like to eat in srping time. The grass is really aromatic and gives special flavour that goes really well with apple juice ;) There is a small Bison sanctuary in the town near to where I live - in Niepołomice. They have approx 30 animals there. The sanctuary is closed for any outside visitors as it's main purpose if the preservation of the species.
Thank you fo r this video! It's great to see that slowly, but surely, the European Bisons are more commong in the wild in our continent! :)

[evillemike]

"Re-Wilding" is a new word for me. With the stress and encroachment going on here in the US, I worry that we're losing way too much wilderness way too fast, even as some of us are resisting. It's good to hear about efforts in other parts of the world. Thanks for doing that work.

[RDR]

The Carpathians are maybe the most beautiful mountains I've seen. Thank you for helping them regain even more of that natural beauty!

[jedrzejbiaokryty]

An interesting story: A few years back in Poland, a Cow escaped her field and wandered for some time until she stumbled upon a herd of Bisons and they accepted her as their own and she did good in the wild for a while. Unfortunatly she had to been taken back in fear of her breeding a hybrid and effectively undermine the bison specie reconstruction effort.

[unlink]

This makes me so incredibly happy. We need bears, moose and bison, as well as wolves in European forests. Nature is missing these big animals and predators. Our forests are hurting. It's so insanely important that we get them back.

[gigihentz]

After its total extinction in 1790, Romania has now over 100 bisons (that we call "zimbru" in Romanian), living in 5 sites, most of them in the Carpathians; first 2 were brought from Poland and were reintroduced back in 1958...a very beautiful "monster"

[willieclark]

The lionshare of the American Bison recovery has been on the back of commercial ranching/ meat production. Recovery is a lot easier when it pays for itself - not to mention that it demands the farm/ ranch landscape play a more functional role ecologically.

[marin]

some 25 years ago, I had the chance to some of the bisons reintroduced in Northern France. It is a very peaceful and impressive animal.

[diogolucas]

Amazing job, Duarte! Exciting times for the European Bison, hope to see their numbers increase at a faster rate in the future, with Mossy Earth as part of that success!

[jaroslawgarbus]

Thank You Poland❤️
You preserved this majestic species from Extinction you are my hero!!!

[douglasr]

It makes me so happy to see such a beautiful and important species returning back to its native range. I can't to see where the future takes this species and hopefully they'll be able to spread across Europe soon!!

[indyreno]

Did you know that the closest living relative of both the European Bison (Bison bonasus) and the American Bison (Bison bison) is the Yak (Poephagus grunniens)?