52 Years of European bison breeding on the Wisent-Island in the heart of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Abstract

The 52 years history of European bison breeding in the Dammerower Werder reserve was fulfilled with many successes and failures. The paper present the reserve and results of breeding in years 1957–2008. As the successes prevail the breeding center can not only record a steady increase in population, benefiting the restitution of the European bison, but much more – it has been developed into a sought after tourism feature. Since 1957, Wisents or European bison (Bison bonasus) are bred on the Damerower Werder in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The first European bison came as a gift from the Polish government to the former German Democratic Republic (GDR). The breeding programme developed successfully. Up to eleven calves see the light of the Wisent-Island every year, 261 individuals were born here until the 31.12 2008.