Mobile application – a powerful tool for monitoring the European bison (Bison bonasus) in its natural habitat

Abstract

The free app that monitors the European bison was made available to users at the beginning of 2019. Each user, after observing a wisent in its natural environment, can add his report using a mobile phone. Each report contains a number of information such as the date, place and type of observation, data on specific animals or traces of their existence – traces, damage, faeces. Attaching a photo and additional comment enables verification of the entered data. After 30 months of operation of the application, it is possible to summarize its use and functions. During the discussed period, 1050 users registered, who added over 640 observations of wisents in Poland. Despite the large number of registered users, only 8.9% were active and send at least 1 report. The observation of males was registered more frequently. Unclassified observations accounted for a large percentage. Users correctly estimated the size of the European bison herds. Of all monitored populations the greatest number of observations were made for the Białowieska population, the least for the Bieszczady population. Two cases of long-distance migrating animals have been reported. The popularization of the application improves the monitoring of the European bison herds throughout the year. It facilitates the quick transfer of information, which may help prevent the damage caused by the wisents in agricultural crops or early recognition of potential danger (e.g. a potentially aggressive individual near human settlements).