Wisent (European Bison)

Description:

Having been hunted to extinction in the wild in the early 20th century, the Wisent now tells a conservation success story, with more and more animals being reintroduced into the wild from breeding programs. The IUCN has downgraded its conservation status from "endangered species" to "vulnerable species". The Wisent is quite similar in appearance to its north american cousin, but, on average, stands a little taller at the shoulder with slightly less bulk.

Habitat:

Once it roamed the lowlands of northern Europe well into what is now Russia. Since it became extinct in the wild, populations have been reintroduced from countries like Spain, through The Netherlands and Slovakia, into Russia. Germany has now a small population in North-Rhine Westphalia, where these animals had been absent for 850 years.

Notes:

These pictures were taken at the "Tierpark Sababurg" Wildlife Sanctuary.