European Bison

The mighty and majestic European bison is the relictual embodiment of the wildness of prehistoric Europe. Tragically, the millennia since that time have seen so many species driven to extinction by human impacts, and the European bison has only narrowly avoided the same fate. Today, the species represents the symbolic sentinel of successful conservation actions in a world in which such achievements remain few and far between.

From an early stage in the restitution of the European bison, husband-and-wife team Malgorzata Krasinska and Zbigniew A. Krasinski have been participating in relevant management initiatives and researching all facets of the bison, from its morphology and diet, to its movements, social life and reproduction, and the conservation management actions that have been taken to save it. Now they have summarised this wealth of knowledge on the species, giving rise to a publication ideal for students, professional biologists and conservationists, but also for all nature enthusiasts.

This new edition of the monograph offers extensively updated content taking into account research carried out on the European bison in the last few years. Also featured, a new chapter devoted to knowledge of the genetics of the species drawn up by Malgorzata Tokarska of the Bialowieza-based Mammal Research Institute PAS.

Contenu
Foreword.- Acknowledgements.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Systematics, registration and nomenclature.- 3. Morphology and longevity.- 4. Genetics.- 5. The original range of the species Bison bonasus (L.).- 6. The European bison and the aurochs on Polish territory.- 7. The natural population of Lowland European bison in the Biaowiea Forest.- 8. The restitution of the European bison in enclosures within the Biaowiea Forest.- 9. European bison in the Biaowiea Forest a characterisation of the environment.- 10. The restitution of a free-ranging bison population in the Biaowiea Forest.- 11. The rhythm to bison activity.- 12. Reproduction.- 13. Behaviour patterns.- 14. Food and use of the environment.- 15. Social organisation of the population.- 16. The spatial structure of populations.- 17. Population management.- 18. The significance of the Biaowiea bison for the preservation and recognition of the species Bison bonasus.- 19. Threats to the species Bison bonasus.- 20. Bison as protected animals.- 21. Cooperation over the restitution of the European bison in the Biaowiea Forest.- 22. The restitution of bison in captive breeding in Poland.- 23. Restitution of free-ranging populations around the world.- 24. Hybrids between the European bison and domestic cattle.- 25. American bison a close relative of European bison.