The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve plans to replenish its bison herd with foreign breeding bulls

January 4, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is negotiating with foreign partners to obtain purebred European bison, the Deputy Director for Research of the State Environmental Institution "Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve" Valery Ivkovich told a BELTA correspondent. The European bison population in the Berezinsky Reserve numbers about 35 individuals. These large mammals, the heaviest living on the European continent, first appeared in the reserve in 1974. Several females and males were then brought from the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve (Moscow region). These animals became the parents of the current herd. In fact, it consists of closely related individuals, which leads to genetic degeneration. "The Berezinsky European bison need fresh blood," Valery Ivkovich stated. In this regard, the reserve is negotiating the possibility of obtaining purebred breeding European bison free of charge from the Polish Centre for European Bison Studies. -0-