Wild bison released into UK countryside for first time in thousands of years

[Still Waters]

Early on Monday morning, three gentle giants wandered out of a corral in the Kent countryside to become the first wild bison to roam in Britain for thousands of years.

The aim is for the animals’ natural behaviour to transform a dense commercial pine forest into a vibrant natural woodland. Their taste for bark will kill some trees and their bulk will open up trails, letting light spill on to the forest floor, while their love of rolling around in dust baths will create more open ground. All this should allow new plants, insects, lizards, birds and bats to thrive.

The rangers expect the bison to breed, with females producing one calf a year, and the Wilder Blean site is licensed for up to 10 animals. In future, they hope to provide bison to found other sites in the UK, as well as exchanging animals across Europe.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/18/wild-bison-return-to-uk-for-first-time-in-thousands-of-years

Related:

 

[Still Waters]

First wild bison born in UK for millennia after surprise pregnancy

A pioneering rewilding project has had an early surprise: a bouncing baby bison. It is the first wild bison to be born in the UK for thousands of years.

Three bison were released in Kent in July but, unknown to the rangers, one had a secret passenger on board. Bison conceal their pregnancies to prevent predators targeting pregnant animals or their offspring.

The female calf was discovered after a couple of days when rangers did not see the mother, who had found a secluded location to give birth. “The calf has come on leaps and bounds – literally,” said Tom Gibbs, a bison ranger. She loves to run circles around the adults, he added.

The project is a collaboration between the Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust and they had hoped the new herd would breed in due course, but the new baby is a bonus. A bull is expected to arrive from Germany to join the three female bison by the end of October.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/21/first-wild-bison-born-in-uk-for-millennia-after-surprise-pregnancy

[Still Waters]

Photos have captured the UK's first free-roaming bison calf as she reaches 6 months old.

Bison Ranger Donovan Wright, who took the photos of the calf, has been watching over the herd since their arrival.

The calf is learning the behaviours of the bison around her and is often seen by the rangers rubbing on trees, dust-bathing and browsing in dense woodland.

“When we see her carving out her place within the herd, we’re reminded of just how far the project has come. 

“This time last year, there were no bison in the wild in the UK and we were facing Brexit-induced hurdles at every turn.

https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2023-03-01/photos-capture-uks-first-free-roaming-bison-calf-at-6-months-old

[Abramelin]

It's not "bison", but "wisent".

Etymologically related, true.

Wisent are related to (American) bisons, but look more slender.

[+Desertrat56]

29 minutes ago, Abramelin said:

It's not "bison", but "wisent".

Etymologically related, true.

Wisent are related to (American) bisons, but look more slender.

I love it when I am not the only one who does a "Well, actually..."   

[Still Waters]

16 hours ago, Abramelin said:

It's not "bison", but "wisent".

They're European bison. 

https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/explore-rewilding/reintroductions-key-species/rewilding-superstars/european-bison

 

Quote

The European bison (Bison bonasus ) or the European wood bison, also known as the wisent ( or ), the zubr, or sometimes colloquially as the European buffalo, is a European species of bison.

https://animalia.bio/wisent?

 

Quote

European bison (Bison bonasus), also known as wisent

https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Bison_bonasus/

[Abramelin]

6 hours ago, Still Waters said:

They're European bison. 

https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/explore-rewilding/reintroductions-key-species/rewilding-superstars/european-bison

 

 

When I was a young guy, the only name used for these animals was "wisent".

Then the Americanisation of media started, and people started calling the beast "bison", or "European bison".

It's a wisent.

 

[Myles]

It seems odd that they would only start with 3.   Is inbreeding a concern?   

I like the idea of repopulating the bison population.

[Tatetopa]

On 3/7/2023 at 11:16 AM, Abramelin said:

When I was a young guy, the only name used for these animals was "wisent".

When you were a young guy, you were probably speaking Saxon weren't you?

[Abramelin]

3 minutes ago, Tatetopa said:

When you were a young guy, you were probably speaking Saxon weren't you?

Heh, no. Even in Dutch the name was 'wisent'. Wàs. Now almost nobody knows what a wisent is. It's bison or European bison (in Dutch: bizon). Sometimes even 'oeros', or aurochs, but that's just plain wrong.

[Tatetopa]

3 minutes ago, Abramelin said:

Now almost nobody knows what a wisent is.

Soon more people will. Like elephants they modify the ecosystem and create opportunities for diversity among smaller plants and animals of all kinds.  Good job, I bet it spreads.

[pellinore]

On 3/7/2023 at 7:30 PM, Myles said:

It seems odd that they would only start with 3.   Is inbreeding a concern?   

I like the idea of repopulating the bison population.

Interesting thought, I thought teh same. (Mind you, some people reckon humans started with just two, and look how well we have turned out).

[pellinore]

On 3/6/2023 at 7:52 PM, Abramelin said:

It's not "bison", but "wisent".

Etymologically related, true.

Wisent are related to (American) bisons, but look more slender.

So Buffalo Bill should have been called Wisent William.

[Still Waters]

Pigs and ponies join UK’s wild bison to recreate prehistoric landscape

The UK’s first wild bison in millennia have been joined by iron-age pigs, Exmoor ponies and longhorn cattle as the rewilding project moves forward in creating a rich and natural new habitat.

The Wilder Blean project in Kent is deploying the animals to replicate the roles played by mega-herbivores when bison, aurochs and wild horses roamed prehistoric England. The animals will be closely monitored as they transform a former commercial pine plantation into a wild wood.

“This is where the project really starts to come to fruition,” said Paul Hadaway, of Kent Wildlife Trust (KWT), which runs the project along with the Wildwood Trust. “We’ve had the bison now for eight months settling into this site and doing some amazing stuff. But the intention was always to have as close to a natural grazing assemblage as we could recreate.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/18/pigs-and-ponies-join-uks-wild-bison-to-recreate-prehistoric-landscape

[Still Waters]

Bridges that will allow European bison that were released into the wild near Canterbury to roam across a wider area of woodland are to be erected.

The bison, which were introduced to the Kent countryside a year ago, currently live in 50 hectares of woodland.

The bridges will allow them to roam 200 hectares, and will also enable visitors to walk around the woods while the animals pass underneath.

Kent Wildlife Trust aim to build four bridges, costing £250,000 each.

West Blean and Thornden Woods, where the animals live as the UK's only free-roaming bison herd, has several public footpaths.

The paths prevent the herd from having full access to the woodland, as legislation prevents the bison from sharing the same space as the public.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-65826444

[+Hammerclaw]

On 3/6/2023 at 2:52 PM, Abramelin said:

It's not "bison", but "wisent".

Etymologically related, true.

Wisent are related to (American) bisons, but look more slender.

Don't be such wise ant.

[openozy]

On 3/18/2023 at 11:03 PM, Still Waters said:

Pigs and ponies join UK’s wild bison to recreate prehistoric landscape

 

At least it will give the elusive UK panthers something to eat .