Nearly 300 thousand tourists visited bison pen
Photo: Fotolia
Nearly 300 thousand people visited the European bison acclimatization pen existing since mid-2012 in Muczne in the Bieszczady Mountains. "Its popularity among tourists increases from month to month" - told PAP spokesman for the State Forests in Krosno Edward Marszałek.
"Staying here is a great opportunity to see the bison in their natural habitat, in the environment in which they live. Most of the tours coming to Bieszczady visit the pen" - said Marshal.
The spokesman for the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Krosno reminded that "only last summer over 40 thousand tourists visited Muczne, almost 650 people per day". "We expect a similar turnout during the winter break" - he added.
11 animals currently live in the pen in Muczne; They were brought them from France, Germany, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries. The bison can be watched from a short distance. The pen is open all year, from dawn to dusk, and the entry is free.
It covers an area of almost nine hectares. The stream Czerwony flowing through its centre, the slope on which the feeder was built is covered with centuries-old fir trees. The trees are protected by mesh to prevent bison from damaging their bark. After seeing the animals, visitors can take advantage of four nature paths and 17 km of cross-country ski trails in the area.
After a few month of acclimatization in Muczne, the bison join the Bieszczady herds. Animals brought to Poland from other countries take their place. "We try to make sure that the animals are possibly distantly related to local bison. Their primary task upon release, is to improve the health of the herds living in the Bieszczady Mountains" - noted Marszałek.
According to the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Krosno estimates, more than 300 bison live in the wild in the Bieszczady Mountains. The first animals were brought there in 1963. These animals are representatives of the Białowieża-Caucasian race. They are descendants of bison from the Caucasus and females living in the zoos and private farms. The bison crosses of the Caucasus and Białowieża lines are a separate line of breeding. Currently in the wild they are found only in the Bieszczady Mountains. In other places in Poland live pure Białowieża bison.
PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland
kyc/ mhr/ zan/
tr. RL
Przed dodaniem komentarza prosimy o zapoznanie z Regulaminem forum serwisu Nauka w Polsce.
