Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve shed light on its bison micro-population

The revitalised European bison micro-population in the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is doing well, but needs extra food in winter, the reserve informed

Photo: Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve website

The bison population in the area is 50 years old: in 1974, the first five animals (one bull and four cows) arrived there from the Prioksko-Terrasny Nature Reserve to become the founders of a new bison herd in Belarus.

“The Berezinsky reserve has, therefore, become the second bison habitat in Belarus after Belovezhskaya Pushcha. The heard had reached its peak number in the 2000s (39 heads), but shrunk naturally in the following years due to inbreeding and lack of new blood. We started revitalising the population two years ago, in December 2022, by bringing 15 bisons from the Osipovichi experimental forestry. After being quarantined in a temporary enclosure for a while, they were released into the wild in June,” the reserve’s representatives explained.

They went on to say that, “Bisons have adapted well, acclimating hemselves to their new territory. Two calves have been born in the time they’ve been with us, so the herd now is 17 heads strong. From spring to late October, they roam around the Berezina hunting ranch; in late autumn, we move them to the protected area close to Mazhnitsa village.”

It gets harder for animals to find food in winter, so feeders are being set up for the cold season, according to the Environment Protection and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources state programme for 2021-2025.

“We have built stationary feeders where we put food regularly in the cold season. We use corn silage, oats, hay, and add salt for bisons to lick. It’s a special salt compound that water doesn’t dissolve. The feed also has added vitamins and nutrients, as well as vermifuges. The herd keeps close to those feeders throughout the winter,” the reserve informed.