2 days 2 bisones

The Nyíregyháza Zoo has just concluded a series of professionally significant and conservation-focused activities in close cooperation with the Directorate of the Őrség National Park.

Over the past few days, the European bison has been the focus of this collaboration. Specialists from the Őrség National Park transferred a new breeding bull to Nyíregyháza, while the following day our young bull, OFIVOL, was relocated to the Őrség. These two animal transfers represent far more than routine transportation—they constitute important milestones within a long-term international conservation breeding programme.

The European bison (Bison bonasus), Europe's largest terrestrial mammal, became extinct in the wild at the beginning of the 20th century. All extant populations exist today solely as a result of coordinated ex situ breeding programmes.

The long-term conservation of the species relies on the scientifically managed maintenance of captive populations and the coordinated implementation of reintroduction programmes. The objective extends beyond increasing population numbers; it is to establish genetically healthy, demographically viable populations capable of long-term persistence.

In connection with the further development of the Nyíregyháza Zoo's European bison herd, the International Studbook and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) European Bison Ex Situ Programme (EEP) recommended cooperation with the Directorate of the Őrség National Park.

As a result of this recommendation, SILUR has joined our collection.

The breeding bull, born in 2016, originated from the European bison reserve in Topoľčianky, Slovakia. After spending a period in the Őrség National Park, he has now been transferred to Nyíregyháza, where his arrival represents a valuable new genetic contribution to our breeding population.

As part of the exchange, OFIVOL, our young bull born in 2023, has been transferred to the European bison herd at Szalafő, managed by the Őrség National Park Directorate. There, he is expected to play an important role as a future breeding animal.

The next step, following recommendations issued by the International Studbook, will be the arrival of one or two additional females to Nyíregyháza. These individuals will have been selected to provide the most suitable genetic pairing for SILUR.

For many years, the Nyíregyháza Zoo has been an active participant in the European bison conservation breeding programme. Animals bred at our institution have previously contributed to reintroduction projects in Bulgaria, Romania, Azerbaijan, and Hungary, including the re-establishment of the species within the Őrség National Park.