The Wisents in Ste EulalieThe Wisents in Ste Eulalie

The wisent, or European

bison (Bison bonasus) is the

heaviest surviving land

animal in Europe.

Photo E.Dusher

A typical European bison, or wisent is about 2 m tall, and weighs nearly 1000 kg.

It is typically smaller than the American bison or buffalo.

Photo E.Dusher

About 2000 years ago, wisents lived About 2000 years ago, wisents lived throughout most of Europe - from Britain in the throughout most of Europe - from Britain in the west, to Siberia in the east, and from Spain in west, to Siberia in the east, and from Spain in

the south, to Sweden in the north.the south, to Sweden in the north.

Wisents lived not only in forests but also roamed grasslands.

Photo E.Dusher

In Western Europe, In Western Europe, wisents became extinct by the 11th century. wisents became extinct by the 11th century.

In Poland they remained the property of the king.In Poland they remained the property of the king.

King Sigismund I of Poland King Sigismund I of Poland instituted the death penalty for poaching a wisentinstituted the death penalty for poaching a wisent

in the mid-16th centuryin the mid-16th century.

Despite these measures, and others, the wisent Despite these measures, and others, the wisent population continued to decline over the following four population continued to decline over the following four

centuries. By the 17th century, the last remaining centuries. By the 17th century, the last remaining herds of bison could be found in protected reserves in herds of bison could be found in protected reserves in

the Bialowieza Forestthe Bialowieza Forest.Photo E.Dusher