Overview
The European bison (or Bison bonasus), also commonly referred to as the wisent, is a large ungulate living in the forests and meadows of Poland, Russia, Belarus, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Slovakia, in Eastern Europe. European bison are characterised by their large head, shoulder hump and well-muscled forequarters, all of which are covered in a brown, shaggy coat. The hindquarters are less bulky and are covered in a thinner coat. Both males and females have curled horns that point inwards towards the head and look otherwise alike, though males are larger by about 5%. Bulls grow 1.8m to 2.1m tall at the shoulder, 2.8m to 3.3m long, and weigh 615kg to 920kg. Cows are 1.7m to 2m tall at the shoulder, reach a length between 2.4m to 2.9m and a weight of 425kg to 635kg.
Appearance
Male
Female
Juvenile
Colourmorphs
Leucistic male
Leucistic female
Leucistic juvenileSize & weight
Size
Shoulder height: 1.83 to 2 m
Juvenile
Juvenile weight
77 kg
Measured as Shoulder height. The person stands 1.75 m tall for scale.
Habitat requirements
Barrier grade
Grade 3 of 5
Minimum height
1.25 m minimum
Climbing & water
Climb proof
Not needed
Water barrier
Not allowed
Habitat needs
Minimum area
Land
420 m² + 105 m² per extra animal
Shelter
15 m² per animal
Environment
Temperature
-15 to 28°C
Plant coverage
15-100%
Enclosure
Habitat
Terrain
- Grass 30-100%
- Sand 0-40%
- Soil 20-100%
- Rock 0-20%
- Snow 0-100%
- Waterlogged 0-20%
Diet and enrichment
Diet
- Hay
- Herbivore Pellets
Enrichment items
Water sources
Conservation
IUCN Red List
Near threatened
Least concern
Critically endangered
Wild population
2,518
2,518 in the wild. Rank 10 of 58 species with a known count, smallest first.
Today, the European bison is considered a Near Threatened species. By the early 20th century, European bisons were driven to extinction in the wild due to overhunting and habitat loss. Only 60 individuals remained in captive or managed groups. Consequently, the species was offered widespread protection, and, through captive breeding and reintroduction programmes, the European bison was saved from disappearing completely. Deforestation and habitat loss through agricultural development, as well as inbreeding depression and hybridisation with domestic cattle, still threaten the species today. Bovine tuberculosis transmitted by livestock also poses a risk. Carefully managed populations of European bisons have been successfully reintroduced in many areas of Europe, with further reintroductions planned. Reintroduction efforts have seen significant success, especially in Poland’s Białowieża Forest and Romania’s Southern Carpathians multiple free-ranging populations have been established.
Zoopedia sketchbook
Social & reproduction
Keeper notes
European bison live in mixed herds of females and their offspring, including sub adult males. Mature males live together in pairs or trios, except for breeding periods, where they fight each other for access to a group of females. Mixed herds often come together to exchange individuals, so they do not live in exclusive familial units. In the mating season, taking place from August to October, dominant bulls, usually 6 years or older, attempt to join a group of females and defend them from rival males. Younger bulls will also join female groups, but are usually prevented from mating by the older male. If another mature bull approaches the herd, the two engage in a fight for their position. The bull assesses his female’s receptiveness to mating by sampling their urine. He will separate a female approaching oestrus from the group and guard her closely. When she is fertile, he will mount her to mate. European bison cows are pregnant for 254 to 277 days, and give birth to a single calf. To deliver the calf, she leaves the herd for a few days, then returns with the infant. Weaning is complete when the calf is 14 months old. Female European bisons reach sexual maturity at 3 years old, and remain with their mother’s herd. However, herds may exchange members when they meet, so herds aren’t exclusively family groups. Males become sexually mature at 2 years old and leave their natal group to join a bachelor herd, though they are unlikely to successfully mate until they are around 6 years old. At this point, they separate from their bachelor group and become solitary satellites hanging around the fringes of mixed groups until the next breeding season.
Group and breeding
Group
Group name
Herd
Group size
2-13 (up to 1 male, up to 12 females)
Male bachelor group
1-8
Female bachelor group
1-13
Offspring dispersal
Male offspring
Lifecycle and breeding
Life expectancy
14-28 years
Age of sexual maturity
3 years
Age of sexual sterility
20 years
Gestation or incubation
8.7 months
Interbirth period
15.3 months
Litter size
1
Mating system
Polygynous
Mating season
Autumn
Reproduction in captivity
Very Easy
Dominance
Matriarchal herds and dominant bulls
Research
Research levels
| Level | Unlocks | Research gate |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Thriving Requirement 1: at least 8 objects or plants with the Bushes tag | |
| Level 2 | Thriving Requirement 2: Water Surface Area; European Bison Fact Sheet | |
| Level 3 | Release groups and release to the wild | |
| Level 4 | Thriving Requirement 3: Food Grade 2; Fertility Level 1 (+15% fertility) | Before this level: an Observation Network (Observation Platform) in Poland Reserve and this species released in Poland Reserve |
| Level 5 | Thriving Requirement 4: at least 50% native plants | |
| Level 6 | Thriving Requirement 5: Mud Bath, at least 2; Fertility Level 2 (+30% fertility) |
Researched by
Vets
Researched at
Habitat or exhibit and Research Centre
Wildlife Reserve
Poland Reserve
Every level of this species' research, with its unlock conditions.
Release groups
Valid release groups
| Group | Type | Animals |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed Group | Mixed group | 1 to 3 males, 4 to 10 females |
| Bull Group | Male group | 2 to 8 males |
Release requirements
| Requirement type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Ecosystems Required | Pastures |
| Ecosystems Required | Flourishing Open Canopy Forest |
| Ecosystems Required | Flourishing Closed Canopy Forest |
Release groups, reserve requirements and the roles this species fills.
Animal facts
- In Poland, the European bison is known as the zubr and is the national animal of the county.
- During summer, an adult male European bison may eat up to 32kg of food in a day.
- The European bison used to be heavily hunted for its hide, meat, and horns which were used to make drinking horns.
- There used to be 3 subspecies of the European bison, two of which are fully extinct now: the Carpathian European bison (B. b. hungarorum), native to Moldova, Romania, Hungary, and Ukraine, and the Caucasian European bison (B. b. caucasicus), native to the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. The type species (B. b. bonasus) is the European bison we know today and the only subspecies to recover from extinction.
- The European bison is the heaviest terrestrial mammal in Europe, with bulls occasionally weighing over 1,000kg. The record weight attained by a European bison is 1,900kg, though generally this species is lighter than their American relatives.
Taxonomy
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
