Exploration Behaviour of European Bison (Bison bonasus) after Its Reintroduction to Żednia Forest District in North-Eastern Poland

Reintroduction of European bison into the natural environment is one of the most important conservation measures applied for this species. After creating a free herd of European bison, spatial monitoring is crucial. It allows for observation of the population, as well as the detection of potential t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inDiversity (Basel) Vol. 15; no. 4; p. 575
Main Authors Sobczuk, Maria, Klich, Daniel, Uciechowska-Grakowicz, Anna, Olech, Wanda
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Basel MDPI AG 01.04.2023
Subjects
Acclimation
Acclimatization
Alliances
Analysis
Animals
Biological diversity
Bison bonasus
Buffalo
conservation
European bison
Exploratory behavior
Forest ecology
Forests
Global positioning systems
GPS
Habitat availability
Home range
Land settlement
Monitoring
Natural environment
Protection and preservation
range establishment
range expansion
Reintroduction
Telemetry
Towns
Transmitters
Wildlife conservation
Poland
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Summary:Reintroduction of European bison into the natural environment is one of the most important conservation measures applied for this species. After creating a free herd of European bison, spatial monitoring is crucial. It allows for observation of the population, as well as the detection of potential threats and needs for intervention. In 2016, a new free herd of European bison was introduced to the Żednia District in Knyszyńska Forest. After a few months spent in the acclimation enclosure, the animals were released. The course of their acclimatisation was observed with GPS collars during the next 7 years. Thanks to telemetry monitoring, we could determine the moment when the herd stabilised its home range within available habitats. Monitoring performed for 7 years after the release of the herd confirmed the previously established home range. The fact that the animals remain close to the release site and that there is no damage to the winter crops confirms that the reintroduction site was well chosen.
ISSN:1424-2818
1424-2818
DOI:10.3390/d15040575