European bison

There used to be two types of wild cattle in Europe. While the “aurochs”, the progenitor of all cattle breeds, died out in the 17th century, the bison has survived to this day. During the First World War, the species was decimated down to a few individuals, and was only able to be saved by breeding in zoos. Thanks to their reintroduction, around 6000 animals now live in protected areas in Poland, Slovakia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Caucasus. The Alpenzoo is involved in the conservation of this species as part of the European Conservation Breeding Programme. A male bison is a real powerhouse in its own right, and the largest land animal in Europe. Female bison are significantly smaller. The winter coat comes off in large chunks during the shedding season. At the Alpenzoo, bison are kept together with wild boar. They have similar enclosure requirements and usually get on well together.