Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/bison-calf-born-in-uk/
Earlier this year, a group of European bison was released into the United Kingdom to help improve the ecosystem of the West Blean and Thornden Woods in Kent, as well as to help mitigate climate change impacts. It turns out, one of them was pregnant at the time, and she’s given birth to the first bison born in the wild in the U.K. in thousands of years.
According to a news release from Kent Wildlife Trust, one of the groups behind the effort, Bison Rangers had been keeping an eye on the bison since they’d arrived in July, but there was no indication that any were pregnant. They discovered the newcomer during standard checks in September.
Ranger Tom Gibbs explains, “It is difficult to detect pregnancy in bison as they naturally conceal being in calf to avoid being hunted by predators, it is a survival mechanism.
“Though it was a surprise to see that the younger female bison had given birth, it was always a possibility, and we have created a care plan for the calf to ensure her needs are met. These animals are wild, so we want to remain as hands-off as possible, but their welfare is at the absolute heart of what we do. She is being observed by experts and we are constantly monitoring the whole herd to ensure their wellbeing.”
He added that though he’s sure people are excited to hear the news and may want to observe the newcomer, they’re encouraging people to give the animals their space.
The team had hoped that breeding would happen eventually, and there is a bull from Germany set to arrive in the coming months. It would be the first male, as the current group, including the calf, are all females. The mother will have gotten pregnant before arriving in the United Kingdom.
Mark Habben, Director of Zoo Operations at the Wildwood Trust, the other partner in this effort, says, “When the bison took their first steps into the wild just weeks ago, it was hard to imagine that anything could come close to the elation we felt in that moment. But here we are celebrating the arrival of a bison calf.
“Ground breaking projects like this, by their nature, always carry an element of the unexpected but this addition to the herd has come as a significant surprise, albeit a very welcome one.”
European bison had nearly gone extinct by the 1900s, with only twelve remaining in eastern Europe at one point. While they are not native the United Kingdom, their relative, the extinct forest bison Bison schoetensacki, lived there in the Pleistocene.
This new group of bison had made their way to the U.K. this summer to boost the ecosystem. It’s hoped that their grazing, bark consumption, and tree felling will improve species biodiversity by opening the canopy and creating light and new spaces for other species. It’s also hoped they will help create a more climate resistant landscape.
Updates on the project can often be found on the Instagram pages of Kent Wildlife Trust and Wildwood Trust.
Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog
