Bulgaria, Romania to take Bison from Poland

Last year, the minister Jan Szyszko offered to support EU member states rebuild habitats for the animal.

Bulgaria has requested three male and three female bison while Romania is interested in breeding the animal.

“The bison is a European species which used to occur throughout nearly all of Europe, but which was eliminated from the western parts, depending on the region, some 300, 200 or 100 years ago,” Szyszko said, adding: “The last remaining bison are in Poland.”

Bison were almost entirely wiped out during World War II, however the population has recovered to about 1,500.

Szysko also spoke about criticism directed at Poland for deforestation of the Białowieża Forest, which is home to a significant number of the animal.

“Criticism targeted at Poland, or attacking Poland for poor protection of natural resources, is damming,” Szyszko said, adding that Poland’s plan to distribute the Bison throughout Europe will increase the species’ chance of survival.

Szyszko’s deputy, Andrzej Konieczny, said that recent culls of Bison were to eliminate the suffering and spread of disease among the vulnerable species. (vb)

Source: PAP