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The satellite herd gains five new little bison
Kamica, with a calf of unknown gender, joined the herd on 15 July; on 17 July, an elderly female bison - formerly a leader of the Dobrzany herd - gave birth to yet another calf. The birth took place within the herd: This satellite herd created in 2008, gained five calves in total.
Added 19.07.2009 MMT
The herd gets bigger
A four-year old cow with newly-born female calf returned to the herd on 7 July. Kamica is still absent.
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Added 08.07.2009 MMT
Additional calves
In the Drawsko herd, other cows have departed, in order to give birth. Two cows are absent: Kamica, an elderly female bison, who had previously given birth to calves in Białowieża; and a four-year old, who is likely to give birth to her first calf.
There were three confirmed births in Mirosławiec forest. The herd is occupying difficult terrain, so there may be others.
Added 24.06.2009 MMT
The first calves
The bison from Dobrzany forest and Drawsko forest have merged into one herd. They occupy the territory of Drawsko forest. Ósma, the female bison who had the snare removed from her leg in March, was left in Dobrzany forest. She has almost stopped limping now, and her physical condition has improved. Amazingly, even after this traumatic experience, she gave birth to a calf - probably a bull - on 4 June. This is the first bison born in Ińsko region. We were able to photograph the calf and mother on 14 June: They are both well, but the photo is of poor quality because Ósma is a very cautious and protective mother.
A calf was born on 18 June to the joint herd in Drawsko forest. This is most likely a female calf born to a four-year old, brought into the Łobez forest. The birth took place within the herd, and the calf is being looked after not only by the mother, but also by at least one "auntie". The photographs of the small calf were taken on 21 June: The calf grows rapidly and will soon be able to easily follow the herd.
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Added 21.06.2009 MMT
The herds joined (lets hope , not for long)
The herd from Dobrzany, seven individuals, came close to the western border of the Dobrzany herd three times last month. On the morning of 30th of April the Dobrzany herd crossed the western border and walked through the whole territory to the eastern boarder. The same day they moved back to the west and met the Drawsko herd in the evening. They have been together for two days, but clearly they stay in two separated groups. We hope it will not last long and that the herds will split soon. As for now Karwia, is a leader of two herds.
Add 02.05.2009 MMT
People like to watch our bison
On Sunday 19th of April near the number 10 country road not far from Piecnik our herd took the attention of people traveling by car. We can see below people smiling as they watched and took pictures of the bison.
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Add 22.04.2009 MMT
Osma is the four year old female that we had to untangle from the wire snare. Since then she has been staying alone in 4 sq km of the Kozia Gora Forest near the adaptation enclosure. We gave her a radio collar so we can watch her. The attached image was made with a photo trap ( a gift from Ecotone - THANKS!! ) we can follow her healing process closely. You can see the wound over her front left leg.
Add 20.04.2009 MMT
Wire snare on bison's leg
On the 26th of Febuary we mentioned that one of the bison was limping. After the snow melted we had no further reports of it. But again during heavy snowing in March we were able to trace the bison. We found out that one of the female bison had a loop of wire wrapped around her front leg - it was a snare that had been set by poachers! This had caused a deep wound which had become hard and the whole leg was swollen. The bison itself was suffering and was in a really poor condition. We were able to unwrap the wire and did all we could to help the wound to heal. Than we set the bison's collar so it would be easier for us to find her if she needed more help.
After the surgery the bison is back in the area where he spent the last 5 months and we are continuing to feed her.
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Add 29.03.2009 MMT
Bison after winter
All the bison from our herds went through the winter and are now in a very good condition. Thanks to good feeding they spent less time in the open areas where they could have done more damage to farmers' plantations.
Thanks to data from their collars we know the places the animals most like to visit. This allows us to build the new troughs for next winter.
Add 07.03.2009 MMT
Bison in summer areas
The Dobrzany bison herd is back to its summer area. They went 4 km east and are now not far from the accommodation enclosure in Kozia Gora Forest.
Add 03.03.2009 MMT
Big relief - Whole herd counted up
From October 2008 the herd of Dobrzany was observed with number of seven not eight. We had had unconfirmed reports one of bison died. Fortunately big snow cover allowed us trace "lost" bison and find it alive! What a nice surprise. Four years old female had to live the herd as a result of broken or over stretched leg. She still has problems to follow the herd. She is under our observation and will be cured if it necessary.
Add 26.02.2009 MMT
Collars Change-over Finished
Last days of February we collared last 9Th bison in this season. The images below show 2 cows being collared.
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Add 26.02.2009 MMT
Pontek 
Dies
Bull Pontek which was brought to Mirosławiec from Pszczyna in 2005 died 15th February as a result of fight for the leadership in the herd.
Add 16.2009 MMT
Still Feeding
It is feeding season now, so we are very busy doing that with our 3 herds - from Mirosławiec, Drawsko, Dobrzany. Bison are very happy to eat beetroot and oat. Hay is not taken so likely. We will keep feeding till middle of April.
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Add 14.02.2009 MMT
Collar change over
According to our project six bison were collared with GPS system last April. Now is time to change old collars (those which are not working) for new. It is necessary to shoot the bison with anestetics, as for now we got 3 individuals recollared, there are six more to be done.
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Add 18.01.2009 MMT
Feeding during winter season
The herd released from enclosure in Lobez forest moved to Drawsko forest. It looks they are not going to be back despite the troughs are full with food. We decided than to built the new trough in the area of present being of the bison. They haven't found it yet.
Add 11.11.2008 MMT
Latest news
People who went to the forest to pick up the mushrooms witnessed the birth of baby bison. We have never had the information about bison birth so late in the year. Last year calf was born in September and now is doing really well.
On 17th of October 2008 the Committee of Wojewodzka Rada Ochrony Przyrody w Szczecinie (The Board of County Nature Protection in Szczecin) took place. We presented our achievements under the project of THE DEVELOP & THE PROTECTION OF ZACHODNIPOMORSKIE HERD. The board approved progresses we made.
The auction for the food supply is finilised. Firts part will be delivered next week.
Add 19.10.2008 MMT
Ukrainian bison dramatic situation
During the conference in Cisna our colleagues from Ukraine Ivan Parnikoza, Vladimir Borej and Vladimir Sesin presented speech about dramatic fall of bison population in Ukraine. From 1992 the population of 685 fall to 210 in 2007. Some of the free herds were totally exterminated. Please find below e-mail addresses of Ukrainian government as well as the the letter which you can sign and send to them.
Ministry of natural protection of Ukraine udz@menr.gov.ua
Foreign Ministry of Ukraine zsmfa@mfa.gov.ua
State Committee of Forestry olga_klimenko@dklg.gov.ua
European bison in Ukraine appeal (English)
Add 23 .09.2008 MMT
15Th - 16Th of September in Cisna ( Bieszczady ) the 6Th international conference "Bison in Nature 2000" took place. Many important reports were presented. We presented our one where all necessary infos from our project were given.
Add 22.09.2008 MMT
Bison dies in car accident
On the 
night of 22nd of August near Piecnik (at Miroslawiec district) one of our bisondied instantly being hit by a lorry. Bison frequently cross the road at this place .There are warning signs and speed limit ( 70 km/h ) to inform drivers the animals . Sadly some ignore the warnings . The lorry driver was unhurt in the accident.
Add 25.08.2008 MMT
Two new troughs ready !
There were 4 troughs to be built according to the project : "THE PROTECTION OF POLISH BISONS : THE DEVELOP AND PROTECTION OF ZACHODNIPOMORSKIE HERD"
Two of them were built inside the enclosures where bison spent over three months acclimatizing
to their new environment . The troughs are not visited often after bison are released . They link it to place of captivity and troughs are empty . We have built two others in the most frequented places - they are not attracted either - This will change in autumn when we fill them with hay , beetroot and oats .
Add 12.08.2008 MMT
ACCLIMATIZING ENCLOSURES REMOVED
After bison were set free the fences were removed
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Add 12.08.2008 MMT
Karwia joines the herd
On 21st march 2008 the delivery of bison from Bialowieza National Park to Forest of Lobez took
place . One of the bison's managed to escape from the enclosure - a female named Karwia - She headed to a military training area and stayed there. Being very aware of people -She was spotted only twice . On 19th 07 08 we released the whole herd which moved the same direction Karwia had and they found each other after a few days . Karwia became a leader - all the bison are more careful now and getting closer than 200 meters is almost impossible. This makes reading the dates from collar transmitter by radio signals very difficult .
Add 12.08.2008 MMT
One month on the wild.
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Add 23.07.2008 MMT, MG
Bisons on the wild!
For the first time in 28 years , at West Poland , new herds of wild living bison are being created . In 1980 professor Ryszard Graczyk brought 8 bison to the forest of Walcz - they formed the beginning of a herd numbering 42 at present .
ZTP signed an agreement with EF regarding financing the project : "THE PROTECTION OF POLISH BISONS : THE DEVELOP AND PROTECTION OF ZACHODNIPOMORSKIE HERD" the project is also financially supported by PKO SA Bank . The time of 18 months to prepare all necessary details ( such as enclosures location ) has been spent , before the agreement was made . On signing the agreement we began work . Our first and most important task was to create two wild living herds of bison in the area of Insko Lakes .
Two enclosures 4 hectares each were built in Dobrzany forest and Lobez forest . First 12 females from Bialowieza National Park ( East of Poland) were brought on 21st of March 2008 . The 2 bulls from Kobior forest and other 2 from Niepolomice forest came on 10th April .The bison spend 3 months in enclosures - time for quarantine , acclimatizing and to built the hierarchy within the herds . The two oldest cows and adult bull from each herd were collared with telemetric transmitter - from Vetronic-Aerospace - sending information - such as : location of animal every hour , the activity of bison and its temperature measured every 5 minutes etc. and all the dates are sent with packages every 7 hours . So we can monitor each herd .
Contact
phones: 0913972935, 0661647616, 0501009692
e-mail tracz@hot.pl
Add 23.06.2008 MG