European Bison (Bison bonasus)

The European Bison (Bison bonasus) , is the largest herbivore in Europe. Throughout history, it has spread across a wide area in Western, Central, and Southeastern Europe and the Caucasus, but was threatened with extinction by the late 19th century.

The European Bison ranged widely, from Western, Central, and Southeastern Europe to the Caucasus region. However, by the late 19th century, only two wild populations of this majestic animal remained in the wild. The primary causes of this dramatic decline and the threat of extinction include agricultural activities, deforestation (logging), unrestricted hunting and poaching. These human-induced factors have led to the degradation and fragmentation of the bison's habitat, threatening the species' future.

The recovery of the European Bison is a successful conservation story. Successful captive breeding programs have played a vital role in the species' gene pool and provided a significant resource for increasing its numbers in the wild. As a result of these efforts, reintroduction projects to forests in Belarus, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Lithuania, and Ukraine have been successful. Thanks to intensive conservation management and reintroductions, the total free-ranging bison population has now increased. Despite this success, further measures are essential for the continued protection of the existing population.

The European Bison (Bison bonasus) is listed as Vulnerable (VU) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This listing indicates that the species is still threatened, but has been moved away from the more critical categories thanks to implemented conservation programs. The Red List assessment is provided by the IUCN Red List Partnership, which includes organizations such as IUCN (including the Species Survival Commission), BirdLife International, Conservation International, NatureServe, and the Zoological Society of London.