I though there were some on a hunting ranch in Texas.
European Bison news
- Thread starter Jurek7
- Start date
The photos I've seen from hunting ranches claiming to keep Wisent all look like animals that have Wisent somewhere in their ancestry but have definitely but crossed with another species or two along the way.
I've never heard of the Canadian animals.
~Thylo
I did find an article from a couple of years back of a rancher in North Dakota who had the last breeding herd of Wisent in North America. Upwards of 100 animals at the time.
I remember seeing Wisent at the old Catskill Game Farm and I believe the Bronx Zoo in the 1980’s.
I’d love for the Alaska Zoo to hold the species. The Anchorage area would then be home to facilities displaying the Wisent, the Wood Bison, and the Plains Bison.
I remember seeing Wisent at the old Catskill Game Farm and I believe the Bronx Zoo in the 1980’s.
I’d love for the Alaska Zoo to hold the species. The Anchorage area would then be home to facilities displaying the Wisent, the Wood Bison, and the Plains Bison.
That is why there is European Bison Pedigree Book, which for almost 100 years tracks all real wisents. Most hybrids cannot be told from parent species by sight.
EBPB relies on zoos and breeders voluntarily sending the information. Over the years a few wisents were lost, and it is possible, although unlikely, that their descendants live and were not crossed with american bison. However, only genetic testing can prove that.
If anybody knows of supposed wisents in the USA, and can persuade the owner to contact the EBPB and test his animals genetically for being real wisent, it is welcome. Or any zoo wishing to acquire wisents would also have no problem to get purebred ones.
EBPB relies on zoos and breeders voluntarily sending the information. Over the years a few wisents were lost, and it is possible, although unlikely, that their descendants live and were not crossed with american bison. However, only genetic testing can prove that.
If anybody knows of supposed wisents in the USA, and can persuade the owner to contact the EBPB and test his animals genetically for being real wisent, it is welcome. Or any zoo wishing to acquire wisents would also have no problem to get purebred ones.
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Silvertine Ranch in Canada has a website where they claim to be a member of the EBPB and claim to be one of the only two holders of purebred Wisent in North America, and the only one in Canada. They also say they have a herd over 60-strong and offer surplus animals to be hunted. Their webpage for their Wisent, however, pictures what to me all just look like American Bison. The owner also has a website dedicated specifically to his Wisent which also pictures all non-Wisent-looking animals. I'll link both below:
European Bison (Wisent)
The WISENT or European Bison
~Thylo
European Bison (Wisent)
The WISENT or European Bison
~Thylo
There was a short discussion on wisent apperance on one of the online bison meetings. Basically, hybridizing European an American bison is a constant problem. From an online photo, it can be impossible to tell the species, with different angle, individual variability, and especially if this is not an old bull.
I myself don't feel certain to tell wisent vs american bison vs hybrids from photos at the Silvertine website. Some indeed have full hair between horns and on forelegs, and keep the head low like American bison.
The EBPB writes: "After correspondence with the owner we updated the information about 6 European bison living at the Rockwood breeding centre in Canada. In April 2016, all were purchased by Mr. Steve Rahn, owner of the Silvertine Ranch. On that basis, information on the transfer of animals to a new breeding centre has been included in the table on Additions and VIII Corrections to former lists. Mr. Rahn has other European bison in his possession – which will first require testing for their genetic purity at the level of the species, prior to any inclusion in the book."
It would be interesting to know what is the history - and purebreed status - of the other probable wisents at Silvertine, and that another breeding ranch in North America mentioned on the website.
I myself don't feel certain to tell wisent vs american bison vs hybrids from photos at the Silvertine website. Some indeed have full hair between horns and on forelegs, and keep the head low like American bison.
The EBPB writes: "After correspondence with the owner we updated the information about 6 European bison living at the Rockwood breeding centre in Canada. In April 2016, all were purchased by Mr. Steve Rahn, owner of the Silvertine Ranch. On that basis, information on the transfer of animals to a new breeding centre has been included in the table on Additions and VIII Corrections to former lists. Mr. Rahn has other European bison in his possession – which will first require testing for their genetic purity at the level of the species, prior to any inclusion in the book."
It would be interesting to know what is the history - and purebreed status - of the other probable wisents at Silvertine, and that another breeding ranch in North America mentioned on the website.
If anyone is still interested in the potential wisent in North Dakota, here is the article link: ND rancher has rare breeding herd of European wisent bison
Mr.Ivory
Well-Known Member
This is very interesting
Any chance some of the herd could be transferred to a few zoos across the country? 
From the article:Any chance some of the herd could be transferred to a few zoos across the country?
Dave Sebastian said:
I get the message:
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We recognize you are attempting to access this website from a country belonging to the European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU which enforces the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and therefore access cannot be granted at this time. For any issues, contact circulation@capjournal.com or call 605-224-7301.
Can anybody link the content?
BTW, these animals are (again) unknown pedigree, and could well be (again) wisent x American bison hybrids.
European bison in Poland were counted again. There are 2429 wisents as of 31. Dec. 2021, including 2223 in the wild and 206 in zoos, enclosures etc.
Wild herds are:
Puszcza Białowieska – 779
Bieszczady – 729
Stada w Zachodniej Polsce – 340
Puszcza Knyszyńska – 212
Puszcza Borecka – 125
Puszcza Augustowska – 20
Puszcza Romincka – 9
Lasy Janowskie – 9
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One can follow radio-collared wisents and elk (moose) in western Poland on the online map. The main reason in preventing collisions near major roads and crop damage to agricultural land. Interesting is that one herd has been living just 30 km from the broder of Germany for over a year, and wisents migrated and settled also much further south, near the main Posen-Berlin highway:
Bezpieczna Informacja o Żubrach i Łosiach
Wild herds are:
Puszcza Białowieska – 779
Bieszczady – 729
Stada w Zachodniej Polsce – 340
Puszcza Knyszyńska – 212
Puszcza Borecka – 125
Puszcza Augustowska – 20
Puszcza Romincka – 9
Lasy Janowskie – 9
Log in or sign up to view
One can follow radio-collared wisents and elk (moose) in western Poland on the online map. The main reason in preventing collisions near major roads and crop damage to agricultural land. Interesting is that one herd has been living just 30 km from the broder of Germany for over a year, and wisents migrated and settled also much further south, near the main Posen-Berlin highway:
Bezpieczna Informacja o Żubrach i Łosiach
First herd to Serbia?
Yes - no wisents in Serbia until now, neither wild or in zoos.
Yes, the first in Serbia ... I expected them to be reintroduced in the southern or eastern part of the country, which are less populated. Fruška Gora is near Novi Sad, the second largest city in Serbia, and around the park is an area with intensive agriculture. There are also several monasteries and monuments in the park, a large number of visitors ... I hope that the bisons will not end up in a large enclosure.
Quite correct
Has Europe set a target number for European Bison - say 10,000 initially?
And allocated so many per country?
Who is in charge of this sort of stuff anyway?
European Bison Pedigree Book for 2021 is available for free to download.
Bialowieski Park Narodowy - Powojenne zeszyty Księgi Rodowodowej Żubrów w wersji elektronicznej do pobrania
The population grew slightly to 1801 (701.1100) in zoos and parks, 487 in fenced reserves, and 7266 in the wild.
Encouraging are the tiny new wild populations: in Azerbaijan, Romania and two in Poland. Also interesting is reshuffling of wild populations in Ukraine and Russia, which shows that wild European Bison start moving on their own, a sign that they become a truly wild functioning population.
I am really afraid what will happen during 2022. with the war in Ukraine. It can be a disaster for the European Bison in Ukraine and Belarus. And what becomes of ongoing conservation plans elsewhere, like transporting European Bison to Azerbaijan for releasing there?
Bialowieski Park Narodowy - Powojenne zeszyty Księgi Rodowodowej Żubrów w wersji elektronicznej do pobrania
The population grew slightly to 1801 (701.1100) in zoos and parks, 487 in fenced reserves, and 7266 in the wild.
Encouraging are the tiny new wild populations: in Azerbaijan, Romania and two in Poland. Also interesting is reshuffling of wild populations in Ukraine and Russia, which shows that wild European Bison start moving on their own, a sign that they become a truly wild functioning population.
I am really afraid what will happen during 2022. with the war in Ukraine. It can be a disaster for the European Bison in Ukraine and Belarus. And what becomes of ongoing conservation plans elsewhere, like transporting European Bison to Azerbaijan for releasing there?