European bison

There used to be two breeds 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 small number of individuals and could only be saved by breeding in zoos. Thanks to reintroduction, around 6000 animals now live in protected areas in Poland, Slovakia, Belarus, Ukraine and the Caucasus. The Alpine Zoo is involved in the conservation of this species as part of the European Conservation Breeding Programme. A bull bison is a real powerhouse and the largest land animal in Europe. European bison cows are significantly smaller. The winter coat comes off in large chunks when they shed. At the Alpine Zoo, bison are kept together with wild boar. They have similar enclosure requirements and usually get on well together.