Chapter 2

Conservation Status
For centuries the European bison was under special protection as it was considered the property of Polish kings, Lithuanian princes and Russian Tsars. One of the first legal acts concerning bison protection was the socalled Lithuanian Statutes, declared by Polish King Sigismund the Old in 1553. The death penalty was imposed for killing European bison by Sigismund August (1520 1572). Vladislaus IV introduced strict protection of royal forests in Poland and their game (1641). From 1803, the Russian Tsar Alexander I ordered the special protection of European bison in Biaowiea Forest. For at least two centuries, European bison were fed during the winter here (cf. Karcov 1903) and in other places. However, no measure of protection helped stop the species extinction in the wild at the end of WWI. Today the danger of extinction to the largest mammal of the Eurasian Continent remains; however, in many respects (number, distribution) the situation for the species seems to be better now than at the beginning of the 20th century. Yet, further bison restitution efforts encounter numerous unsolved problems. Many threats still faced by the species indicate the necessity for its active protection and special care. Such actions might include legal protection by law in every country, according to its current status on Red Lists or Red Data Books, and the creation of free-ranging populations within the territories of national parks or reserves. On the continental scale, the European bison is included in Appendix III (protected fauna species) of the Bern Convention on the conservation of European wildlife and natural habitats and is treated as an endangered species (EN: A2ce, and C2a(i)) by the 2003 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The overview presented below indicates that European bison should be in Bern Convention, Appendix II strictly protected fauna species. It should also be included in the Habitat Directive of the European Union (Appendix II and IV) as suggested by several European countries (e.g., Poland, Romania, and others). There is no international strategy on captive breeding for the European bison world population and we know

Herd of European bison at the feeding place in the open glade of Biaowiea Forest.

Y. Kleinlogel

The bull Poranek No EBPB 980 one of first animals released into Biaowiea Forest.

that some regional strategies have only been recently prepared. The European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) started the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) in 1996. In the year 2000, 405 animals in 62 breeding centres (35% of the world captive population) participated in this programme. The rules of the programme included: 1. evaluation of genetic value of animals using pedigree information; 2. transfers of animals between participants; and 3. preparation of management guidelines for the species. It is necessary to emphasise the importance of the European Bison Pedigree Book (EBPB), which not only registers and publishes lists of European bison, but also keeps an eye on the genetic purity of the species. EBPB is the only source of information about the genealogy of the species global population from the beginning of its restitution (beginning of 20th century) to the present day. Nevertheless, not all owners of captive bison groups sent information to the EBPB editor annually, and some do not cooperate with EBPB at all. Of course, these groups

are usually very small (14 animals), but larger groups also exist. [In 1987 to 1992 three German owners of large captive groups terminated all contact with EBPB: Bayreuth (14 animals), Hohenstand (24 animals), and Krechting (41 animals). EBPB has no information about semi-free ranging herds in Gurley, USA (28 animals), Preslav, Bulgaria (73 animals), Voden, Bulgaria (75 animals), Bucani-Neagra, Romania (45 animals), and others.] Animals from such breeding groups with no contact with the EBPB editor risk losing their pedigree status and will not have the possibility of introductions to other herds of pureblood European bison. The same is true for animals bought by dealers, who are unable to supply precise information regarding the fate of the animals they are buying and selling. The EBPB should publish some genetic guidelines (e.g., list of genetically important animals) for owners and managers of captive groups. In any case, the EBPB is a necessary tool for successful restoration of European bison, and the Editorial Office of the EBPB and the IUCN/SSC Bison Specialist Group are very thankful to all owners and breeders of European bison (captive and free-living), groups for their information and cooperation.

Z.A. Krasiski