04.03.2016 change 04.03.2016

Bieszczady/ European bison will return in the upper valley of the San

Photo: Fotolia Photo: Fotolia

Scientists and veterinarians dealing with the Bieszczady European bison population recommended to the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Krosno restoration of the herd of these animals in the forest district Stuposiany in the upper valley of the San.

"In the beginning of March three-year quarantine after extinguishing tuberculosis in bison ends in that Forest District. The local herd was infected with tuberculosis, it had to be culled in 2013" - told PAP spokesman of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Krosno, Edward Marszałek.

Director of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Krosno in Krosno Grażyna Zagrobelna assured that "on 8 March, the date of the quarantine expiry" foresters will begin "activities aimed at restoring free bison herd on the upper San River".

"Before this can happens, foresters will have to perform a series of tests, carry out the selection of animals for the starting herd, which surely will include some of the bison currently residing on the presentation farm in Muczne" - added Zagrobelna.

The first cases of tuberculosis in the Bieszczady bison occurred in 1996 in the forests of Ustrzyki Dolne district. At that time, foresters failed to eliminate all affected animals.

Tuberculosis returned in 2010 in the Forest District Stuposiany and in the Bieszczady National Park. In 2011, permits were obtained for diagnostic culling, and then culling of the entire herd, which ended in March 2013. Three-year quarantine was introduced.

It was proposed that the starting herd should consist of three cows from the wild herd in Komańcza Forest District and young bison raised on the presentation farm in Muczne. Expected date of the animals release into the wild is winter 2016/2017.

Foresters also know the details of this year\'s bison inventory in the Bieszczady Mountains.

"Based on the results of the monitoring it has been determined found that 53 calves were born last year. With a small number of natural falls, this means a very high increase, resulting in a clearly growing numbers of bison" - noted the spokesman of the Regional Directorate of State Forests in Krosno.

Marszałek pointed out that in 2012 foresters counted 256 wild bison, 270 a year later, and 303 in 2014. "At the end of last year their number was determined to be 344 animals. Accurate results are obtainable based on the monitoring of herds held since 2011 using photo traps" - said Marszałek.

European bison was first brought to the Bieszczady Mountains in 1963. These animals belonged to the Lowland-Caucasian race. They are descendants of a bison from the Caucasus and females kept in public and private zoos.

Currently, they live only in the Bieszczady Mountains. In the other centres in Poland live pure bison of Białowieża. In Bieszczady there are two monuments dedicated to bison: in Pszczeliny in the commune Lutowiska and in Komańcza.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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