The bison lives in the forest. Mountain bison. Large nature reserves in Russia

Even at the end of the 20th century there were a lot of bison These real lords of the forest lived in a variety of places. But due to the increased interest of hunters in them animal bison appears less and less often, its populations have decreased significantly.

And now this animal can only be seen in special reserves. This problem did not start yesterday. Until now, people are trying to correct the situation and save at least those bison that remain on the earth. Today this animal is listed in.

Features and habitat

According to external data, the bison has quite a lot in common with the aurochs. The bull is enormous in size, has a wide front part of the body with a small hump protruding on the back and a small head when compared with the entire body of the animal.

The body of this giant reaches up to 3 m in length. Two not too large horns are visible on the head, which remain unchanged throughout the bison’s entire life cycle.

There are significant differences between the front and back of the bison's body. The back is dry and compressed. When you see her, you get the feeling that she is not fully developed. This giant can sometimes weigh about a ton.

Its coat is a rich chestnut color. More should be said when description of the animal bison about his wool because it is to it that he owes the fact that he does not freeze in cold weather and does not get wet in rainy weather. A small bison beard can be seen from the bottom of the chin, which makes it more respectable than other animals.

Many believe that because of their large weight category and enormous size, bison are clumsy and slow creatures. This opinion is immediately refuted by those who saw him angry or afraid. The bison exhibits great mobility and speed, running quite quickly, although not for long.

For those who have little experience with rare animal bison It is important to know that if a bison digs the ground with its hooves and zealously licks its muzzle while snoring loudly, it means the animal is very angry and it is better to stay away from it at such moments.

From historical data it is known that the habitat of bison is the area from the Pyrenees Mountains to Siberia. They lived in the Kingdom of England, as well as on the Scandinavian Peninsula.

Later, their habitat expanded significantly to large territories; bison even ended up on the American continent. In the 90s there were enough of them in many regions of Ukraine. And at this time he lives there in reserves under the reliable protection of people. He disappeared only from the Chernigov region.

Now people are trying to breed these animals so that their populations increase. But much to our chagrin, this is not happening yet. That's why bison still remain animals from the Red Book.

Not long ago, the public was horrified by the news that a wild bison that had appeared in Germany had been shot. Such cruelty and ignorance of how to behave with wild animals is completely bewildering.

Such an unpleasant incident also happened because not all people know what animal is bison, and that they pose no danger. It is only the sight of animals that inspires fear of them.

In fact, you shouldn’t be afraid of them, but teasing them is also not recommended, otherwise the bison can turn from a calm creature into an aggressive one. These giants prefer to live in deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests with a temperate climate.

Bison is an animal similar to a bison. And this is not surprising, because they are the closest relatives. It is interesting that crossing between them is even possible, from which bison are born.

Their ancestors were aurochs, whom people destroyed without even noticing to themselves. Just a little more and the same fate would have befallen the bison. But people came to their senses in time and took appropriate measures.

Character and lifestyle

Those who believe that these were revived from an almost extinct species quite easily are mistaken. This required a lot of dedicated and painstaking work from a person who took full responsibility for this species.

Without humans, it would be difficult for the bison to survive. Although, on the other hand, it is man who is the main cause of all his troubles. Scientists needed a lot of time and patience to study the life and habits of this herd animal. Only old bulls are interested in living alone. At the head of the herd is a female bison with great strength and experience.

Despite the huge and massive size of the bison, there is a sense of ease in its movement. The animal escapes from danger with a fast gallop, reaching about 40 km/h. This speed is not the limit of skill. It is not difficult for a bison to jump over a 2-meter barrier, and it does it from a standing position.

The strength of the bison is the reason for true legends. Its power is not wasted on trifles. Only moments of danger or rage can provoke its awakening. The rest of the time the animal shows unprecedented calm and peacefulness.

He is most active in the morning or evening. Their daytime is taken up by rest, which includes sleeping or taking “sand baths” with their tails whipping up dust.

Shows obvious aggression towards his opponents. At first he shakes his head, snorts and looks at his opponent with hostility. Then he pounces on him and hits him with all his strength with his horns.

The bison shows extraordinary calm towards people. He has no fear of them. There are times when some make a sudden lunge forward as if in self-defense.

But among them there are also those who approach a person very closely, pretending that no one is nearby. These animals have never broken fences, although it will not be difficult for them to do this.

Only those bison that are in captivity can behave this way. Free animals prefer to be more careful. They try to move a long distance from the person. The thing people should be most wary of is the female with her baby next to her. At such moments, she is capable of destroying, destroying and killing everything, protecting him.

No matter how good-natured bison are, when meeting them, great caution must be exercised because although this is a calm animal, it still belongs to the category of wild ones.

Nutrition

The diet of herbivorous bison includes a huge number of grass species. There are about 400 of them. They will never refuse leaves, shoots of trees, shrubs, grasses, mosses, lichens and mushrooms. This is how animals eat in the warm season.

With the onset of cold weather, the diet changes somewhat. Bison eat bark, aspen, willow, linden, and maple branches. During such periods, workers in protected areas help them feed themselves by installing special feeders with hay.

These animals prefer life in one place without traveling long distances. Therefore, in order to somehow resettle them and expand their habitat, people always try.

Reproduction and lifespan

The mating season, accompanied by mating tournaments of males, falls at the end of summer and beginning of autumn. Males compete with their horns for the female until the strongest one wins.

Such competitions can last 2-3 hours. The defeated one then retreats, the winner gets all the laurels and the right to mate with the desired female. Afterwards comes a 9-month pregnancy.

After this time, one or two bison are born. He appears in a secluded place that his mother chooses shortly before this moment. In a couple of days the baby comes to his senses, and after he gets stronger, his mother comes with him to the herd.

The baby has been breastfed for almost a year, without ceasing to eat plant foods. Under normal conditions, the female gives birth once a year. The lifespan of these animals lasts on average about 30 years.

Bison or European bison– lat. Bison bonasus, a species of large ungulate vertebrate.

Body structure of a bison

The bison is the largest animal of the modern fauna of Europe. Only in height is it sometimes inferior to a large elk, but in weight it significantly exceeds the latter. Body length in adult males ranges from 234 to 350 cm; height at the withers is from 158 to 195 cm. The main length of the skull of males ranges from 449-489 mm. Live weight from 430 to 1000 kg.

The usual weight of a male bison of average age and average fatness is 32 pounds (512 kg). Apparently, there were individual males even heavier than the figures given. Thus, G. Kartsov determined the weight of an old large bull killed and gutted in his presence to be about 800 kg (50 pounds); Its live weight (including entrails) should therefore be assumed to be about a ton. The sometimes even higher figures, up to 1900 kg, are apparently not always reliable. A reliably known case of the live weight of a 12-year-old male bison “Ermysha” (3/4 blood bison) of 1200 kg, reported to the author M.A. Zablotsky, may be associated with the phenomenon of heterosis, common in interspecific hybridization of animals.

The live weight of a 58/64-blood male bison, 4 years old, shot in my presence in October 1958 in the Caucasus Nature Reserve was 589 kg.

The general physique of the bison is heavy, massive, together with the peculiarities of the hairline, giving the animal a ferocious appearance. In the body, attention is drawn to the disproportionate development of the anterior and posterior parts. The front part is unusually massive, especially in males. The withers are very high, due to the elongation of the spinous processes of the vertebrae that make up its skeletal basis, and forms a kind of hump, further enlarged by the hair standing vertically on its crest. The powerfully developed muscles of the shoulder girdle and shoulder blade enhance the massiveness of the front part of the bison's body. The chest is very deep, but flat due to the slight curvature of the ribs. The back of the bison's body gives the impression of being underdeveloped, although not to such a strong extent as that of the American bison. The pelvis appears narrow, compared to the shoulder girdle, and set low. The height at the rump in males is 20-25 cm, in females it is 12-15 cm less than the height at the withers. The impression of weakness and underdevelopment of the buttocks is enhanced by the shorter and tighter hair in this part of the body. The profile line of the back falls steeply towards the hindquarters, often forming a noticeable wave-like bend. The belly is lean, further emphasizing the depth of the chest. The tail is round in cross-section, 50-60 cm long with a brush of long hair at the end - 80-100 cm, reaching or even descending slightly below the hock, unless worn out or torn. When excited and running, the tail often curls and rises upward. The bison's neck is short, thick and wide; due to the high withers, it appears to be set low on the body. The top line of her profile falls steeply in front, further emphasizing the hump-shaped high withers. On the underside of the neck there is a fold of skin with a fringe of long, coarse hair.

Bison coloring

The color of the bison, compared with many other ungulates of our fauna, is quite monochromatic, brown-brown. The front of the body, compared to the back, is somewhat darker. The sides and bottom of the head are especially dark, as are the beard and dewlap on the neck, which have a black-brown tint. The belly is colored darker than other parts of the body. The lower parts of the legs are also dark brown, but the hair immediately adjacent to the crowns of the main and accessory hooves is usually a lighter yellowish-brown color. A dark tan stripe often runs along the midline of the neck and back. The proximal part of the tail is the same color as the body, while the brush consists of black-brown hair with a small admixture of white hair. The shoulders and withers, and sometimes also the sides of the neck and the top of the head, are lighter yellowish-brown in color, with a smoky touch. In contrast to the bison, the ears are the same tone as the body. The hair at the very end of the muzzle and on the lower lip is light whitish-brown in color, while the eyes are surrounded by a ring of pure brown. The hair of the undercoat is lighter than the guard, yellowish-brown in color.

Habitat and distribution of bison

As established by the research of V.I. Gromova (1935), the modern bison is a shredding descendant of the primitive bison (Bison priscus) - a species widespread in Eurasia from the lower to the end of the upper Pleistocene. The primitive bison was also the ancestor of the American bison. The shrinking of the bison trunk, due to the deterioration of climatic conditions towards the end of the Ice Age, began, according to V.I. Gromova, from the end of the last interglacial. The discovery in Germany of a fragment of a skull with greatly shortened but still massive horny shafts, attributed in size to the species Bison bonasus, dates back to this time. A form intermediate between the short-horned races of the primitive bison of the late Pleistocene and modern B. bonasus was found in the deposits of the Upper Paleolithic site of Ilskaya in the North Caucasus.

Biology and lifestyle of bison

We can talk about two ecological types of bison: lowland and mountain. The first is the Belovezhsky bison, an inhabitant of the lowland mixed forests of Europe, while the Caucasian bison is considered a typical mountain forest animal. What both forms have in common is an attachment to the forest. Like most other representatives of the Bovinae subfamily, species of the genus Bison are primarily forest animals. The adaptation of the American bison (Bison bison bison L.), as well as, probably, of some races of the primitive bison to life in the steppe, is undoubtedly a phenomenon of a secondary order. For the free bison, the forest was not only a place of rest and shelter from enemies, but also provided the animal with a very significant share of food, both quantitatively and qualitatively.

Bison nutrition

There is a lot of contradictory information about the bison's diet. Apparently, those who claim that almost everything that he finds in the rich undergrowth forest, on the edges and forest clearings serves as food for him.

The question of the bison's need for tree and branch food is of fundamental importance. A typical forest animal, the bison, in contrast to the steppe bison, requires the mandatory participation of tree and branch food in its diet throughout the year. Many years of experience in breeding bison in Askania-Nova showed that 50% of all deaths of these animals, deprived of tree food here, occurred from gastrointestinal diseases.

Where does the bison live in nature?

Research by L.V. Krainova on the nutrition of freely grazing bison in the Caucasus Nature Reserve showed that in the conditions of beautiful meadow pastures, bison constantly eat woody food. Woody food is necessary for bison throughout the year. In summer, bison need it along with grass. The forest is not only a home, but also a constant source of food in the form of leaves, shoots and tree bark.

In practice, in the conditions of the Caucasus Nature Reserve, all tree species growing in the bison grazing area are eaten to one degree or another, and almost half are the main tree food. Favorite species are elm and rowan. Various types of willows, aspen, ash, hornbeam and some others are also readily eaten. The eaten parts of these species are leaves, thin branches, and bark. The bark is eaten throughout the year, but especially readily in the spring, when it is juicy and easily separated from the wood. Bison cut the bark with their incisors at the height of the muzzle and with a movement of the head, or, moving backwards, they tear off long, up to 3-4 m, strips from the bottom up (in those breeds, of course, in which the bark can be torn off in this way). Tasty autumn foods include acorns, beech nuts, and in the Caucasus also the fruits of wild apple and pear trees, for which bison “keep vigil” under the trees and even dig up fallen fruits and acorns from under the snow.

Bison breeding

The duration of pregnancy for the bison is about 9 months, so calving occurs in May and June, normally extending even for animals living in free conditions to one and a half months. With semi-free or penned housing, these terms, due to changed living conditions, are violated even more. Although normally the maximum number (about 30-40%) of calvings occurs in May, the process still extends from April to December, and individual cases can occur in January, February and even March.

The calf suckles its mother for at least 8-10 months, and if she does not become pregnant this year, she can use mother’s milk for over a year. The amount of milk secreted by a bison per day is not known, but there is evidence that an artificially fed bison is supposedly capable of drinking milk from two average-yielding cows. Due to the insignificant size of the udder, it is believed that the bison has little milk, but it is fattier than that of a cow. From two to three weeks the calf begins to pinch tender leaves, but switches completely to plant food only at the end of autumn or winter.

Animal classification:

Class - mammals

Infraclass - placental

Order - artiodactyls

Suborder - ruminants

Family – bovids

Subfamily - bulls

Nadrod - bulls and buffaloes

Genus - bison

Species: bison or European bison

Literature:

1. I.I. Sokolov "Fauna of the USSR, Hoofed Animals" Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 1959.

1556. What is the significance of the struggle for existence in evolution
A) preservation of individuals mainly with useful changes
B) preservation of individuals with any hereditary changes
C) creating material for selection
D) aggravation of relationships between individuals

Only 13% answer correctly; children's favorite answer is A.

But A is a function of natural selection, not the struggle for existence.

TODEBICH: 11

2432. Black pigment that absorbs light is located in the human organ of vision in
A) blind spot
B) choroid
B) tunica albuginea
D) vitreous body

The pigment melanin is located in the (brown, blue) iris, and the blind spot is in the retina, on the other side of the eye.

TODEBICH: 6

985. The variegation of night beauty and snapdragon is determined by variability
A) combinative
B) chromosomal
B) cytoplasmic
D) genetic

Only 18% answer correctly; children's favorite answer is A.

The combined variability of the night beauty is associated with the white, pink and red colors of the petals; variegated leaves are a little different.

TODEBICH: 14

1372. When dihybrid crossing (unlinked inheritance) of individuals with dominant and recessive traits in F1, a phenotypic split occurs in the ratio
A) 9:3:3:1
B) 1:2:1
B) 3:1
D) 1:1:1:1

Only 18% answer correctly; children's favorite answer is A.

To get 9:3:3:1, we need to cross AaBb x AaBb, and we have one of the parents (which has recessive traits) aabb.

TODEBICH: 5

2668. In the process of metabolism in a cell, ATP energy can be used
A) to release carbon dioxide from the cell
B) for the formation of water at the oxygen stage of energy metabolism
B) during the breakdown of biopolymers
D) the entry of substances into the cell through the plasma membrane

Only 19% answer correctly; children's favorite answer is B.

The breakdown of biopolymers is an energy exchange, ATP energy is generated (stored), and we are asked to use it (spend it).

TODEBICA: 21

1762. A woman with light (a) straight (b) hair married a man with dark curly hair (incomplete dominance). Determine a man's genotype if their child has blonde and wavy hair.
A) AaBb
B) aaBb
B) AABB
D) AaBB

21% answer correctly, children's favorite answer is A.

A Bb man should have wavy hair (incomplete dominance curly - wavy - straight), and according to the condition, he has curly hair.

TODEBICH: 14

2044. With what probability is the daughter of a colorblind woman and a woman homozygous for the normal vision gene to be a carrier of the colorblind gene?
A) 25%
B) 50%
B) 75%
D) 100%

23% answer correctly, children's favorite answer is B.

Where the second half of the daughters will get the father's X chromosome without color blindness is not specified.

TODEBICH: 10

Bison or European bison

Biogenic migration of atoms is carried out thanks to
A) mineralization of organic substances
B) accumulation of inorganic substances in the cell
B) movement of soil solutions
D) movement of gaseous compounds

24% answer correctly, children's favorite answer is G.

Biogenic is “created by living beings,” but the gases seem to fly on their own.

TODEBICA: 17

2729. Are the following statements about photosynthesis correct?
1. In the light phase, the energy of light is converted into the energy of chemical bonds of glucose.
2. Dark phase reactions occur on thylakoid membranes, into which carbon dioxide molecules enter.
A) only 1 is correct
B) only 2 is correct
C) both statements are correct
D) both judgments are incorrect

25% answer correctly, children's favorite answer is B.

But in the light phase, glucose is not synthesized.

TODEBICA: 21

440. The similarity between chemosynthesis and photosynthesis is that in both processes
A) solar energy is used to form organic substances
B) the energy released during the oxidation of inorganic substances is used for the formation of organic substances
C) carbon dioxide is used as a carbon source
D) the final product - oxygen - is released into the atmosphere

25% answer correctly, children's favorite answer is B.

Oxidation of inorganics is a sign of chemosynthesis, but this does not happen during photosynthesis.

TODEBICH: 12

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Bison

Bison, Belovezhsky subspecies and intraspecific hybrid forms - Bison bonasus (bonasus)Linnaeus, 1758

Spreading: The current habitat of the bison in Russia was formed as a result of practical measures to resettle animals bred in captivity (in specialized nurseries and zoos) into natural habitats. At the first stage of implementing the strategy for the conservation and restoration of bison, isolated populations were created in order to subsequently reconstruct a new range of the species through their natural merging. On the territory of Russia there are 2 regions inhabited by herds of bison: North. Caucasus and the Center of the European part.

Bison animal (lat. Bison bonasus)

To the North In the Caucasus, 2 large populations have been created: the first includes the territory of the North Ossetian Nature Reserve, the Tseysky Nature Reserve and the North Ossetian Game Reserve, the second - the Arkhyzsky section of the Teberdinsky Nature Reserve. In addition, 2 herds of bison - on the territory of Ingushetia (Sunzhenskoe hunting farm) and Chechnya (Assinsky reserve) fell into the zone of instability, which raises concerns about their continued existence. The European Center has isolated herds of bison in the Tver region. (Sknyatinskoe hunting farm), Vladimir region. (Velikoozersk hunting farm), Rostov region. (Fominsk reserve) and Vologda region. (Suselskoe hunting farm).

Habitat: Modern bison are descendants of animals bred in captivity, but when introduced into natural lands, they prefer the same habitats that were characteristic of exterminated native forms, namely: broad-leaved and mixed forests with dense undergrowth. For bison, it is important to alternate vast forests with open spaces (meadows, forest edges, fields). Avoids swamps and highlands. In the anthropogenic landscape it uses secondary forests. The bison is a herd animal. The herd has a variable composition depending on the season of the year: in winter, in feeding areas, individual groups unite into large agglomerations (up to 100 or more animals), in the spring these associations break up into family herds of 10-15 individuals. Family groups are formed by several sexually mature females, often in related relationships, as well as non-breeding young bison up to 3 years of age. Such families are joined by mature bulls, who usually stay apart, either in small groups (young bulls) or alone (old males). The sex ratio in established bison populations is 48% males and 52% females. Sexual maturity in bison occurs at 2-3 years of age, but males are allowed to breed in wild herds at 5-6 years of age, females at 3-4 years of age. Rutting in August-October, calving in May-June. The female gives birth to 1 calf, in exceptional cases - 2. In captivity, childbearing occurs annually, in the wild - once every 2-3 years. The lifespan of bison is up to 24 years (in exceptional cases up to 27-28 years), bull bison is up to 20 years (in exceptional cases up to 22 years). Bison are sedentary animals. However, young males can migrate over a distance of several tens of kilometers from their herd. In some cases, migrations of up to 300 km were recorded. In the Caucasus Mountains, bison populations develop seasonal altitudinal migrations; in the fall - to the foothills, in the spring - to the upper forest zones with access to subalpine meadows.

Number: The bison escaped extinction thanks to captive breeding. The gene pool of the modern world population of purebred bison is derived from the recombination of genes of 12 individuals, called “founders”. Among them, 11 individuals represented the nominal Belovezhsky subspecies (B. b. bonasus) of the last generations of indigenous animals of Belovezhskaya Pushcha at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. and 1 individual (male) of the extinct Caucasian subspecies (B. b. caucasicus). However, modern Belovezhskaya bison have among their ancestors only 7 of the 11 last representatives of the nominal subspecies, while Caucasian-Belovezhsk bison have all 12 founders. Thus, the gene pool of purebred bison during 1918-1945. passed through the so-called “bottleneck”, which predetermined the main limiting factor influencing the prospects for the restoration of this species - weak genetic variability and the predisposition of bison populations to genetic degeneration. The second important factor determining the growth of the bison population is the limit of favorable habitats within the boundaries of the species’ former range: Central and Eastern. Europe, as well as in the Caucasus. The ongoing intensive transformation of these bison habitats limits the growth of already established local populations in Poland, Ukraine and Belarus. Suitable habitats for the species over fairly large areas are found only in Russia in the European center and in the north-west. At the beginning of 1992, the world bison population amounted to 3.5 thousand individuals, of which almost 2 thousand lived in complete freedom in free herds, the rest were in zoos and nurseries. In Russia, as of January 1, 1994, 53 Belovezhsky bison and 346 Caucasian-Belovezhsky bison were counted. Of these, 121 individuals were in nurseries and zoos, the rest in free populations. According to the results of the All-Russian census in 1996, 354 bison were counted, including 241 bison in free populations in 8 locations. In the last 2 years, there has been a tendency towards a reduction in the number of bison in Russia in comparison with previous periods. The main reason is a decrease in the reproduction of young bison in nurseries and zoos, a reduction in the number of the largest free population of Caucasian-Belovezhsky bison in the Tseysky reserve of the North Ossetian nature reserve due to heavy snow and harsh winters of 1991-1993.

Security: Listed on the IUCN Red List 96. The species conservation program in Russia is based on a combination of captive breeding and the creation of free populations. The program began in 1948, when the first breeding groups of purebred bison appeared in Russia. At the beginning of 1994, there were 3 specialized bison nurseries operating in the country - in the Prioksko-Terrasny and Oksky reserves and the Cherga experimental farm (Altai). Individual individuals and small breeding groups are found in zoos in 8 Russian cities. The success of the restoration of the species depends on work to maintain the original gene pool of the bison, formed in the country on the basis of specialized nurseries, and the targeted resettlement of young animals in natural forest lands. The most promising bison habitats in Russia are located in the European center and north-west. region. The primary task at present is the practical implementation of the state program of urgent measures to preserve the bison gene pool in Russia, which will prevent the irreversible loss of the breeding potential of the species in nurseries. It is necessary to create free populations of the species in 2 regions of the European center of Russia - in the west. in the Bryansk, Kaluga and Oryol regions, in the center in the Ryazan, Moscow, Vladimir regions. and Mordovia.

1. Pererva, 1991; 2. Red Book of the RSFSR, 1983; 3. Pererva, 1992; 4. Pererva, Kiseleva, 1991; 5. Lipkovich, 1985; 6. Slatis, 1960; 7. EVRV, 1993; 8. Pererva, 1997.

Compiled by: IN AND. Pererva

AOF | 26.11.2014 16:04:53

The bison is the largest and the heaviest animal in all of Europe! The length of the bison's body reaches three meters, the height at the withers is higher than the tallest dragoon horse - up to two meters, and the bison weighs absolutely unthinkable - about a ton.

What bull doesn't need a shepherd?

The largest animal in Europe - photo

Of course, with such a gigantic size and weight, the giant bison does not need a shepherd; it can fend for itself. However, no one imagined that in the 20th century in Russia these animals would completely disappear from the wild and would listed in the red book rare endangered species, and if not for zoos, bison would remain only in ABC pictures.

How did a person destroy and then save the bison from extinction?

Bison animal from the Red Book - photo

The main population of bison on the territory of the Russian Empire lived in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Since the reign of Catherine II, Belovezhskaya Pushcha was part of Russia. Reigning persons and their entourage loved to hunt bison. They even kept special huntsmen in charge of the royal bison hunt.

But as was always the case in those days (and still too), subjects loved to copy the “powers of this world.” This irresponsible attitude towards the animal world is what killed the bison.

Bison animal. Bison lifestyle and habitat

At the end of the 50s of the last century, it completely disappeared in the wild.

With great difficulty, scientists restored this species in captivity and were able to release it into the wild. Say in truth, the modern animal is the bison only theoretically similar to its ancestor and carrying its genes.

When restoring the animal, they actually used preserved specimens of bison from zoos around the world. But since bison did not breed in zoos, and to this day, even at birth in the wild, males predominate in the offspring of the bison, in order to restore the population used American bison.

American bison - it was used to restore the bison population in Russia.

To survive in winter, bison gather in herds - each with about a hundred heads, but in the spring the animals scatter in all directions to start a family. It's strange that in the bison family there are only females, teenage calves and babies - about 10 heads in total. Male bison walk on their own.

Where does the bison live in Russia now?

In Russia, about 1,500 bison now live in the wild, mainly in the bison nursery of the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve, as well as in the Bryansk Forest Nature Reserve. Bison live in the Ugra National Park and in the northern Caucasus, in the Caucasus Nature Reserve. But attempts to breed the population of this animal in Crimea ended in failure.

Bison are very large representatives of artiodactyl animals, which once almost disappeared from the face of the earth, but were miraculously saved. Bison belong to the bovid family and are related to various types of wild bulls - buffalo, yak, banteng, gaur. The bison's closest relative is the American bison, with which it is even capable of producing fertile hybrids.

Bison (Bison bonasus).

Outwardly, the bison looks like a typical bull; its large body has a massive chest and withers, but a relatively narrow and skinny croup. The massive head with a wide forehead is crowned with a pair of curved, but not long, horns. The blue-black nose of the bison, like all representatives of the bull subfamily, is not covered with hair. Unlike other wild bulls, the bison's legs look slender and quite high, the belly is tucked in and does not sag, and there is no dewlap (sagging fold of skin) on the chest. The body of the bison is covered with rather short, close-fitting hair, which looks thicker and looser on the neck and crown of the head, and forms long feathering on the underside of the head, neck and chest. In addition to this dewlap, a particularly long tuft of hair resembling a goatee can be discerned on the bison’s chin. The tail ends with a tassel of long hair. In the old days, two subspecies of bison were known - European and Caucasian. The European bison has smooth or slightly wavy hair, while the Caucasian bison, now extinct, had curly hair. The color of bison is brown with a darker almost black beard and a light crown. Sexual dimorphism (the difference between animals of different sexes) comes down to differences in size. Males are more massive, their weight is 850 kg, females weigh no more than 700 kg. Modern bison are smaller than those who lived in the last century; then animals weighing up to 1 ton were known!

Compared to the bison, the bison looks slimmer and taller, the height at the withers reaches 2 m, and the height at the rump is 1.6 m, while the body length can reach up to 3 m.

The bison's range was once very vast and covered almost all of Europe and the Caucasus, but intensive hunting led to the fact that already in the early Middle Ages the bison became a rarity in Western Europe; for example, in France, bison disappeared already in the 11th century. For a long time, their stronghold remained Eastern Europe, which was less populated. But here, too, bison disappeared in many countries by the 17th-13th centuries. The Caucasian bison became extinct at the beginning of the twentieth century. During this period, not a single wild bison remained in nature and the species was considered almost extinct, but captive breeding and subsequent acclimatization made it possible to return this beautiful animal to its natural environment. Now bison live in Poland, Belarus, Western Ukraine, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Moldova, Spain, Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

A herd of bison in the autumn forest.

The natural habitat of the bison was forests and forest-steppes, but as they were destroyed, the bison were forced out of open spaces into increasingly remote places and eventually survived only in dense mixed and broad-leaved forests. Bison are sedentary animals; they stick to a relatively small area of ​​forest and can only leave it when there is no food. Bison live in small herds of 5-20 animals. The herd consists of females and growing young animals, adult males stay alone. Sometimes young males form separate bachelor groups; in winter, several small herds can unite into one large herd of up to 30-50 animals.

Bison covered with snow. These animals tolerate the cold well; in winter, lack of food is much worse for them.

The herd is led by a leader - an old and experienced female. In the forest, bison behave surprisingly quietly, they move almost silently, and rarely speak. The bison call to each other with short grunts, and in case of danger they snort. Typically, bison move at a walk, walking slowly and leisurely. They graze mainly in the morning and evening, and during the day they lie down and chew cud. But in case of danger, bison can switch to an unexpectedly fast and light gallop, while they still manage to make little noise. While running, they can jump over wide ditches and obstacles up to 2 m high! The leader runs in front of the herd, the calves follow, and the young males bring up the rear of the cavalcade. It must be said that bison hear well and have a sensitive sense of smell, but are myopic. The character of these animals is calm, but if the bison feels in danger, it can go on the attack. There are known cases when bison attacked cars and tractors during resettlement operations, while at the same time, in their usual environment, bison do not attack people. Most often, bison only threaten, making false attacks towards the intended enemy.

Bison especially love branches of linden, willow, ash, hornbeam, oak, raspberry and blueberry.

Bison feed on a variety of vegetation; their diet includes 400 plant species. In summer they prefer lush grass, less often they eat shoots of bushes and tree bark. In autumn, bison love to graze in oak forests and fatten up on acorns. In winter, they look for green parts of plants under the snow, digging it up with their nose. When there is a shortage of their favorite food, bison can eat mushrooms, berries, lichens and pine needles, and also visit feeding areas for hay. One bison eats 40-60 kg of green mass per day; to digest this amount of food, it needs about 50 liters of water per day, so in winter they can eat snow, and in summer they go to water twice a day.

Bison mating fight.

The bison's rut ​​begins in August-September. During this period, males approach the herds, rub against trees, dig the ground with their hooves, and take threatening poses. If the threat has no effect, then the two opponents collide with their foreheads or strike in the side. In skirmishes, males can cause severe injuries to each other. During this period, male bison emit a strong musky odor. Pregnancy lasts 9 months, so females give birth to calves in April-May. Calves are born weighing 22-23 kg and have a fawn coat color. Already 1-1.5 hours after birth, the calf can follow the female, and after 3 weeks it tries plant foods. Bison milk is very fatty (fat content 9-12%) and babies grow quickly. The female feeds them with milk for 5-12 months, but even up to two years the calf remains next to her. Bison reach sexual maturity at 4-6 years of age, and in the wild they live up to 20-25 years (in zoos they can live up to 35).

On a frosty day, a female bison feeds her baby milk. In captivity, the bison's rut ​​can occur at any time; even when released into the wild, such animals can bear offspring all year round.

In nature, bison have very few enemies. For adult animals, only packs of wolves pose a danger, but calves can be hunted by lone wolves, lynxes, leopards, and bears. The main enemy of bison throughout history remains man. In prehistoric times, bison were hunted for their meat, although the quality of these animals was low. The meat of an adult bison is tough and musky, but the meat of calves is juicy and tender. The benefit of hunting the bison was its large size; one animal could provide food for an entire clan. Later, they began to organize gambling hunts for bison for the sake of prestige. Such hunts were carried out throughout Europe by kings and princes, and even later by landowners. It is characteristic that the last Caucasian and European bison were killed precisely by poachers.

A baby bison learns to butt, and an adult bison plays along with it. For the sake of this game, he even went into the pit to be on the same level with the bison.

Fortunately, at that time, 66 animals remained in captivity. Through the efforts of the International Society for the Conservation of Bison, they began to be bred in zoos, then a herd of bison was first released into the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Nature Reserve, and from there the young animals began to be transported to different countries in Europe. In the Caucasus, hybrids of the Caucasian bison and bison were released, which acclimatized and became similar to the purebred Caucasian bison that once lived here. Now the world bison population numbers 3,000 individuals, of which only 1,600-1,700 live in the wild. Bison have never been domesticated in history, but can produce hybrids with bison and livestock (bison). Zubrons are sterile, but are distinguished by their unpretentiousness and high yield of lean meat rich in protein.

Bison, or European bison (Bison bonasus) are animals belonging to the bison genus (Bison) and the bovine subfamily (Bovinae). A representative of the bovid family (Bovidae) and the artiodactyla order (Artiodactyla) is the closest relative of the American bison (Bison bison), when crossed with which fertile offspring are born called bison.

Description of the bison

European bison are by far the heaviest and largest land mammals in Europe. However, already at the end of the nineteenth century there was a tendency towards a noticeable decrease in the size of the animal.

This is interesting! A pronounced difference in the mass of females and males becomes noticeable around the age of three years, and persists throughout the life of artiodactyls.

In the first half of the last century, sexually mature males of some subspecies were encountered, whose body weight reached 1.2 thousand kilograms. Modern bison are significantly inferior to their ancestors in size, so the average weight of adult individuals varies between 400-980 kg.

Appearance

The maximum length of the body of an adult six-year-old bull is about three meters, and the height of the animal at the withers is 1.9 m, with a chest circumference of 2.8 m. Adult female bison are slightly smaller in size:

• average body length - 2.7 m;
• the height of the animal at the withers is 1.67 m;
• girth in the chest area - 2.46 m.

The front part of the bison's body is characterized by massiveness, as well as noticeable height and width, compared to the rear part of the animal. The short neck and front part of the back form a fairly high hump on top. The chest area is wide, and the belly of the bison is tucked in and does not sag.

The udder, even in nursing females, is not very noticeable, so only four nipples can be clearly seen. This feature is due to the special arrangement of the mammary glands in a pair of scars that stretch all the way to the middle part of the abdomen.

The head of the bison is located very low, so the base of the tail is located noticeably above the parietal region. The frontal part is wide and convex, and the muzzle is relatively small. In the parietal region there are horns protruding forward and widely spaced, which are quite wide at the base.

But they taper at the ends. The horns are black, with a smooth, polished surface, hollow and round in section throughout their entire length. The horns of old animals are most often blunt and partially knocked down. The ears of bison are short and wide, covered with hair and hidden by thick hair on the head.

Main characteristics of the appearance of the European bison:

• tongue, lips and palate – dark, slate blue;
• characterized by the presence of large papillae on the surface of the tongue;
• lips are thin, covered on the inside with pointed leathery growths;
• in the oral cavity there are 32 teeth, including canines, premolars, molars and incisors;
• the eyes are black, small in size, with convex and movable eyeballs;
• the edges of the eyelids are black, with long and thick eyelashes;
• the neck area is thick and powerful, without the presence of a sagging dewlap;
• the limbs are strong, quite thick, with large and convex hooves, as well as the presence of rudimentary small lateral hooves that do not reach the surface of the ground;
• tail up to 76-80 cm long, covered with long hair, with a thick hairy brush-like tuft at the very tip;
• the body and limbs of the bison are completely covered with thick fur, and there is bare skin in the middle of the upper lip and on the anterior edge of the nostrils;
• on the front of the body and in the chest area, long hair resembles a mane, and long hair in the throat and chin area forms a “beard”;
• The head and forehead of the animal are covered with curly hair.

Coat color varies depending on the subspecies. For example, Belovezhsk bison are characterized by a grayish-brown color with an ocher-brown tint. The bison of the Caucasian subspecies has a darker color, brownish-brown, with a chocolate tint. The color of the head is noticeably darker than the color of the fur on the body. The “beard” is black in color, and the mane is rusty brown.

This is interesting! Bison have well-developed hearing and sense of smell, but the vision of such an artiodactyl is not very developed. Among other things, the color of the animal in winter is noticeably darker, and the coat during this period becomes thicker and longer, more curly.

The main differences in appearance between the European bison and the American bison are minor. Bison have a higher hump, which is different in shape, as well as a longer tail and horns. The head of the bison is set higher than that of the bison. The body of the bison is characterized by a more square format, while the shape of the bison is more reminiscent of an elongated rectangle, which is due to its long back and short limbs.

Character and behavior

When meeting a person, European teeth, as a rule, behave quite calmly and absolutely non-aggressively. The artiodactyl animal does not experience fear, but under some circumstances or for the purpose of self-defense it may try to scare a person using unexpected attacks in his direction. Most often, the bison comes close to a person without harming him.

According to observations, bison do not attempt to break the fence or attack people. This type of behavior is typical for representatives of the species kept in enclosures. When in natural conditions, a wild artiodactyl animal behaves as carefully as possible and tries not to let people get too close to it.

This is interesting! Despite the apparent good nature and peacefulness, it is necessary to behave very carefully with the European bison, since the behavior of a wild animal in natural conditions can be completely unpredictable.

Thanks to the innate sense of self-preservation, when meeting a person, the animal prefers to leave. As a rule, an adult female guarding her calf poses a particular danger to people. In an attempt to protect the baby by any available means, the female is capable of attacking everyone who approaches.

Image and life expectancy

Bison unite in small herds consisting of 3-20 animals, a significant part of which are females and young calves. Leadership in the herd always belongs to the adult female. Sexually mature single males prefer to live exclusively alone, but are able to join the herd for the purpose of mating. During the winter period, individual herds are able to unite into large groups.

This is interesting! Competing males easily engage in fights, which often end in quite severe injuries.

The manifestation of sexual behavior is limited by heat, frost and lack of energy, so in the natural population the rutting period takes place in August-September. The average life expectancy of the European bison, even under favorable conditions, rarely exceeds a quarter of a century.

Range of the European bison

Initially, the distribution of bison was noted over vast territories, from the Iberian Peninsula and all the way to Western Siberia, including the southern part of Scandinavia and England. Now in Europe, a couple of main subspecies of the European bison have formed: the European lowland bison, also known as the Belovezhsky or Lithuanian bison, and the Caucasian bison. Today, such bison are found in thirty countries, where they are kept in the wild and in pens.

There are eight centers in Belarus dedicated to the maintenance and breeding of free-living subpopulations of the European bison. The main habitats of artiodactyls are represented by broad-leaved, deciduous forests and mixed coniferous-deciduous forest zones, as well as floodplain meadows with a well-developed grass undergrowth.

Diet of what bison eat

In the spring and summer, European bison prefer to live in places characterized by diversity and a large amount of herbaceous vegetation. In the last decade of summer and with the onset of autumn, artiodactyl animals, as a rule, stay in mixed forest floodplain zones and alder forests, which have damp or moist soils that contribute to the longest possible preservation of non-coarsened herbaceous vegetation.

In late autumn, European bison prefer places where the tree stand is characterized by the presence of a large number of oaks. In winter, artiodactyl animals concentrate in close proximity to stationary feeding areas.

With the onset of spring warmth, large areas of food fields are sown for bison, where the “green conveyor” principle is used.

Belongs to the genus of bison, the subfamily of bovine bovids, and the order of artiodactyls. They have earned the title of lords of the forests. The history of the presented animal goes back to ancient times and amazes with its drama. The bison, exterminated to a critical minimum, continues to exist in specially created nurseries, zoos, zoological gardens and forest reserves. That is why this species of bison is included in the Red Book. Reserve specialists and private individuals are trying on their own to preserve and save the last individuals of the population. Therefore, today there are few places where the bison lives, but such closed zones exist.

Distinctive features of the animal

The largest representative of land mammals in Europe, the bison is a descendant of the wild bull. During the Middle Ages, this species of animal lived in forest areas from east to west throughout Eurasia. Peculiarities:

1. An adult bison reaches up to 1 ton in weight. But the weight can vary from 700 to 900 kg.
2. 185-190 cm - the height of the beast.
3. The length of the animal reaches 260-340 cm.

Only the female can be smaller.

The bison has a massive front part of the body. There is a small hump that connects the back and short neck. The back of the body is smaller and appears to be compressed.

The tail is up to 85 cm long and covered with soft hair. There is a hair tuft at the end, it looks like a small artist's brush. The bison's legs are strong and strong. The convex front hooves are much smaller than the rear hooves.

The wide forehead is very low. Experts confirm that the tail is much higher than the crown of the animal. The black horns are pushed forward and spread apart. Their length is about 60 cm, while the spread of the horns reaches 80 cm.

Large nature reserves in Russia

Now let's look at where the bison lives in Russia, in which reserves. Since the bison is listed in the Red Book, it is almost impossible to find it in the wild today. But there are a large number of reserves and nurseries in which animals are kept in the most comfortable environment.

In the Prioksko-Terrasny State Biosphere Reserve (Moscow region, Serpukhov district), bison are raised, and subsequently they are sent to various regions of Russia, the CIS and Baltic countries. During the period from its foundation in 1948 to 2009, 328 individuals were bred. Animals are also raised:

1. In the Oksky State Nature Reserve, located in the Ryazan region.
2. In the Cherginsky nursery in Altai.
3. In the Pleistocene Park (Republic of Yakutia).
4. About 50 individuals live in the Klyazminsko-Lukhsky reserve (Vladimir region). Animals live practically in the wild.

Animal behavior in its habitat

The bison begins to move actively after eating. They are adapted to extreme weather conditions. They are not afraid of hot summer temperatures and harsh winters. Thick fur protects them from the cold. In winter, the bison can break through deep snow with its head in order to get vegetation below.

It is difficult to answer where the bison lives, in what natural zone, since their habitat is nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries from the east to the west of Eurasia. Most of the population today is located in Russia, in particular in the Prioksko-Terrasny Biosphere Reserve. In other reserves and sanctuaries the population is much smaller. Animals are exported from Russia to European countries - Poland, Germany, Slovakia, etc. There are two types of bison:

1. Belovezhsky. The animals are larger and have long legs.
2. Caucasian. This species differs only in that it is smaller in size and the coat is more curly.

The behavior of the modern bison is no different from its predecessors who lived hundreds of years ago. He is fast, strong and strong, his main task is to protect his own territories. But due to the popularity of its fur and horns on the black market, the bison was included in the list of endangered species.

What are the differences between bison and bison?

The American bison is practically no different from the bison. There are some assumptions that confirm their relationship. The bison has a rather high hump and also differs in shape; the length of the horns and tail is slightly longer. The bison's body type fits into a square, while that of a bison fits into an elongated rectangle. Such a slight difference may not be immediately noticeable. The bison has a long back and its legs are much shorter.

In hot summer weather, almost the entire back of the bison's body is covered with short hair. From the outside it looks like he is going bald. At the same time, the bison has fur all over its body, regardless of the time of year and weather. Bison and bison are the same in size. But the bison seems more compact and stronger due to its stockiness. The American bison lives where there are most flat areas.

Nature reserves in Europe

Abroad, they are also sensitive to the conservation of this animal species. Many individuals were brought to Europe from nurseries located in Russia and the former countries of the Soviet Union. Today, bison can be found in the following European countries:

1. Ukraine. It was in Kherson in the 30s of the 20th century that several individuals of wild bison were found. It is only thanks to them that the population is restored.
2. Poland.
3. Germany. Zoologist Jan Stolzmann founded the International Society for the Conservation of the Bison in Frankfurt am Main in 1923.
4. Moldova.
5. Slovakia.

Initially, the bison's habitat was located in the territory from the Iberian Peninsula to Western Siberia, with England and Scandinavia included in this list.

Bison nutrition

Where the bison lives, the natural area is filled with greenery. This species feeds on plants - herbaceous and woody. You can find them in a forest clearing or near small rivers. In autumn, they graze mainly on mown fields, eating the remains of grass. Common tree species in the bison diet:

1. Aspen.
2. Acorn.

They eat thin branches from trees along with leaves, and peel off the bark. When answering the question of where the bison lives and in what zone, it is worth noting its favorite places - forest clearings.

In specially built nurseries in summer weather, bison are fed with compound feed several times a day. In winter, hay and succulent food, chopped beets and carrots are added to the diet. Experts have calculated that on average one adult female receives 2 kg of feed, while a bison receives up to 3-4 kg. They are introduced to dry food from two months from birth. Each pen is equipped with salt (lick) and mineral supplements are added to it.

Why is the bison on the verge of extinction?

Wolves and connecting rod bears are a threat to this species. But in most cases the person is to blame. The bison lives in places where poachers can easily pass. Due to cutting down and burning of forests, their habitats were destroyed. Unlimited shooting of animals during the First World War led to the fact that by 1927 there were no wild bison left.

But zoos and private estates have preserved a number of these animals. Breeding bison in parks, forest reserves and zoological gardens has become a targeted activity. After the release of young animals into the wild, the number of bison has increased significantly, and it is likely that its population will soon return to its original value.