Mammals · Artiodactyla · Bovidae

European Bison

Bison bonasus

Near Threatened

It could become endangered in the near future if current threats go unchecked. See full glossary

The European bison, or wisent, is the heaviest land mammal in Europe. It became extinct in the wild in 1927, when the last wild animal was shot in the Caucasus, and the entire present population descends from barely twelve animals left in zoological collections. The breeding and reintroduction programme begun in the Białowieża forest, between Poland and Belarus, is one of the great successes of European conservation. Today there are free-ranging herds in several countries, including Spain, where there are semi-wild groups.

Weight

300 kg – 920 kg

Size

2.1 m – 3.5 m

Lifespan

24 years

Diet

Herbivore

Feeds mainly on plants.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Sighting difficulty

Moderate

Estimated population

More than 6,000 individuals, almost all in managed populations

Temperate forestGrasslandHerbivore Diurnal Near Threatened Temperate forest Grassland Mammal

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Fun facts

The entire species descends from twelve animals: the genetic bottleneck is so extreme that genetic diversity remains one of the main concerns in its conservation.
Unlike the American bison, which grazes grass on open plains, the European one is a woodland animal that also browses leaves, shoots and bark.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Deciduous and mixed woodland with clearings and meadows, in eastern and central Europe
Sexual maturity: 2 years
Gestation / incubation: 8.9 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bison_bonasus