The European Bison
The European Bison, also called the Wisent, is Europe’s largest native land mammal. Until the early middle ages, the European Bison was widely distributed in western, central and south-eastern Europe, extending up to the Volga River and the Caucasus.
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About Project
The Ismayilli site in Shahdag NP was selected because of its suitable habitats to provide enough space for a viable population, its status as a protected..
European Bison
The goal of the project is to build a viable population of free-living European Bison on the south slopes of the Eastern Greater Caucasus zone..
About Bison
The reintroduction of this large herbivore will assure natural dynamics in the ecosystems of which many plant and animal species will benefit..
Recent Projects
Reintroduction site in the Shahdag NP
Shahdag NP covers 130,000 ha including different ecosystems – such as alpine meadows, montane mixed forests, sub-montane broadleaved forests.
The first results
In 2018/2019 the reintroduction centre and rewilding area were finalized and got into full operation. Shahdag NP staff were trained and equipped to monitor, protect and manage the European Bison.
Information
European Bison
Due to intensive hunting and habitat destruction the European Bison came close to extinction in the 1920s
Caucasian Mountain Bison
International breeding programs for the European Bison differ between two genetically separated breeding lines
Started in 1952
The first reintroduction of European Bison started in 1952 in Poland in Białowieża Forest at the border with Belarus.
European Bison Monitoring
Interesting Information
Video About Project
WWF Azerbaijan Badamdar, 1st residential area, turn 11, house 3, AZ1021 Sebail Baku, Azerbaijan
