Functioning of the Pszczyna breeding center during last 20 years

Abstract

The Pszczyna breeding center is the oldest European bison breeding center in the world with a rich tradition that played a very important role in restitution of the species. The establishment of the “Żubrowisko” nature reserve in 1996, and subsequent handing over its European bison under the care of foresters by the contemporary manager of the reserve, i.e. the Ojców National Park (which took place in 1997), initiated the recent period in the breeding of these magnificent animals in the Pszczyna Forest. For last 20 years, the Pszczyna Forest District (nowadays Kobiór Forest District) has been undertaking a number of initiatives related to maintenance of European bison and preservation of the variety of habitats where they live.
During that time, the Pszczyna herd has been maintained at a level of approximately 40 individuals. The majority of the herd is living in a semi-free state, in the central part of the reserve. In order to implement one of the objectives of European bison conservation, namely the educational objective, an educational centre “Pszczyńskie Żubry” was established in 2006 (nowadays, the centre functions under a new name: European Bison Breeding and Forest Education Centre). A breeding enclosure was established by the Centre for the Pszczyna line of this species, which also functions as an exhibition enclosure, i.e. the only place where E. bison can be observed by visitors. The European Bison Breeding and Forest Education Centre organizes educational classes, workshops, open-air sessions, and also coordinates the breeding program for European bison.