Eco-solutions: ecologists unveil program to rescue bison population in Zalissia National Park

To restore the bison subpopulation in the Zalissia National Nature Park, the WWF-Ukraine World Wildlife Fund launched the fundraising campaign "300 km Path to Love and Saving Bison".

Ukrinform was told about this by the nature protection organization WWF-Ukraine.

What is the problem?

The territory of "Zalissia" was under Russian occupation for over a month in March 2022.

The National Park was subjected to heavy artillery and mortar shelling, and military units and equipment moved along the forest roads.

The war affected the general condition of the bison in the natural park: not a single adult male remained among them.

If at least one bull is not settled there shortly, then this subpopulation is doomed to extinction.

What is the solution?

The WWF-Ukraine World Wildlife Fund has launched a fundraising campaign, "300 km path to love and saving bison".

^{Photo: WWF-Ukraine}

It was launched to restore the bison subpopulation in the Zalissia National Nature Park, under Russian occupation, for over a month in March 2022.

How does it work?

"As of the beginning of 2022, the subpopulation consisted of 13 adult females, four adult males, five individuals of 2-4 years of age, and two calves of the previous year. Today, there are 14 individuals in the herd," WWF-Ukraine reported.

In the 17th and 19th centuries, bison's existence was already threatened due to excessive uncontrolled hunting and poaching.

^{Photo: WWF-Ukraine}

In most European countries, particularly Ukraine, bison were utterly destroyed in the wild. And it was only thanks to environmental protection measures that it was possible to restore certain subpopulations partially.

Compared to the beginning of the 90s of the last century, the number of bison in Ukraine has almost halved: 5 subpopulations have already disappeared, and "Zalissia" may become the next.

To preserve the population, experts from WWF-Ukraine decided to deliver one or two male bison from Vinnytsia to "Zalissia."

^{Photo: WWF-Ukraine}

Since the bison is an animal from the Red Book of Ukraine, obtaining a permit from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine is necessary to capture it. The authorization process involves prior approval from various institutions.

This process is ongoing. WWF-Ukraine has already received the first approvals.

According to WWF-Ukraine estimates, it is necessary to spend 400,000 UAH for:

• catching animals,
• taking and carrying out the necessary analyses,
• selection of appropriate transport for their transportation,
• involvement of special equipment,
• production of cages.

^{Photo: WWF-Ukraine}

Following the link, you can join the rescue and reduce the distance between bison.

If the male bison is successfully relocated to the Zalissia National Park, the animal subpopulation will begin to recover in 2 years.

"It is difficult to talk about a full recovery: it will become clearer after successful transportation, adaptation, effective mating, and the birth of healthy offspring. WWF-Ukraine experts predict the beginning of population recovery no earlier than in 2-2.5 years," WWF-Ukraine told Ukrinform.

For reference:

Zalissia National Nature Park covers areas in two regions, Kyiv and Chernihiv.

It is an enormous forest massif on the left bank of the Desna.

The nature park was created on December 11, 2009, in accordance with the decree of the President of Ukraine, Viktor Yushchenko, for the preservation, reproduction, and recreational use of typical and unique natural complexes that have important environmental, scientific, aesthetic, recreational and health benefits.

Bison were brought to the territory of the national park in 1967 from Bialowieza Forest. Eight animals formed a wild subpopulation that still lives in semi-free housing conditions.

The fenced area of the "Zalissia" lands is 14.8 thousand hectares, but in March 2022, a large part of it was destroyed as a result of the Russian military invasion of the territory of Ukraine.

It should be noted that public environmental organizations and scientists of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine have developed an action plan to preserve and reproduce bison in Ukraine.

The approved Action Plan provides for:

• creation of a coordination center for conservation and reproduction of bison;
• monitoring of bison populations and conducting scientific research;
• international cooperation and coordination of actions regarding the conservation and reproduction of bison;
• conducting activities to raise awareness of this species;
• preparation and implementation of legislative initiatives aimed at improving the state of the species;
• search for potentially suitable habitats for bison resettlement, etc.

It was also reported that a bison gutted a tourist car in the "Medvyno" eco-park of the Kyiv region.

In addition, it was reported that the Lviv region's foresters recorded the largest bison population in Ukraine. According to recent estimates, there are 114 of them.