Re-introduction of wisents in Germany

There are no pure Wood Bison left in the world. All populations are polluted by Plains Bison genes.

And thus polluted by Domestic Cattle genes, how sad. At least the species as a whole still lives in a small but pure population. It seems both bison species are in similar situations genetically.

~Thylo:cool:
 
The Elk Island Group may be wood bison but the ones in the US are plains bison. I think the wood bison in Wood Buffalo National Park are pure.
 
If I'm not mistaken, about half the current wild population of Wisents are B. b. bonasusXB. b. caucasicus crosses. Meanwhile, in North America, a large portion of the wild American Bison population are B. bisonXB. p. taurus hybrids.

~Thylo:cool:

That is true. Allthough, we are still experiencing seeing a bison and wisent proper. It is not like the breed back theology of Heck cattle or konik horse that may look like but are not auerochs or tarpan (both alas extinct).
 
And thus polluted by Domestic Cattle genes, how sad. At least the species as a whole still lives in a small but pure population. It seems both bison species are in similar situations genetically.

~Thylo:cool:

Not necessarily. I think they are all pure bison, just not pure subspecies.
 
Not necessarily. I think they are all pure bison, just not pure subspecies.

Yep, just some cross-breeding in itself is not detrimental to downgrading of a subspecies (viz outbreeding - inbreeding depression and the beneficial effects of immigrants / new blood into a population every generation).
 
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