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The father and the coordinator of idea to bring the bison from BNP to western Poland was professor Ryszard Graczyk the head of Zoology Department of Agriculture University in Poznan .
So in 1980 8 bison were brought to an acclimatizing enclosures at Walcz forest .
At present they live in the area of approx. 150 square kilometres , mostly thick forest , however it is possible to see them feeding on open fields , and if you stay calm you can watch them even from a car - keeping distance . There are more than 30 individuals - , however car accidents and illegal shootings reduce the population . At the same time the number of new born is very low . The Reason for that is well known to scientists -within the small group of animals all are close related - only crossing the genes gives the advantage of proper reproduction . We additionally must remember that whole world population of European bison's were developed from 7 animals only . There is no natural way the bison's from Zachodniopomorkie can meet and change the genes with other animals - to do so help from us human is needed.
The bison's of Zachodniopomorskie will die without our help !
On January 2005 the project of : "THE PROTECTION OF POLISH BISONS : THE DEVELOP AND PROTECTION OF ZACHODNIPOMORSKIE HERD" was approved . Main goal to protect and develop the population and increase genetic variety .
Main goals of the project:
The project was started on September 2005 , 8 bison from Bialowieza Pszczyna and Wolin were brought to the enclosure , June 2006 the 3 oldest bulls were collared and the enclosure was removed - two weeks after new bison joined the wild herd . Bison which will born from the cross breeding will strength the herd . More fresh blood is to be injected in a future .