Wild bison returns to England's woodlands for the first time in 6,000 years

15 Jul 2020

Wild bison returns to England’s woodlands for the first time in 6,000 years

Wild bison returns to England’s woodlands for the first time in 6,000 yearsA herd of wild European bison will be released in southern England for the first time in 6,000 years. This project aims to help restore an ancient habitat and its surrounding wildlife.

The bison is a large animal belonging to the same family as cows and buffaloes. The European bison can weigh about 610 kg and stand almost 7 feet tall. It is the largest land animal of Europe.

Bison are considered a keystone species. Keystone species are creatures that can greatly affect a particular ecosystem, compared to its population. Bison can create conditions for other animals and plants to thrive (grow in a healthy way).

One male and three female bison will be released in Blean Woods in 2022. The animals are being brought from Poland and the Netherlands.

The European bison is the closest living relative to the ancient steppe bison. This animal existed in the UK 6,000 years ago before it was killed off due to hunting.

Here is a video of the bison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFZSVUZ4C-g

Recommended for Preparatory Grades

A herd of wild European bison will be released in southern England for the first time in 6,000 years. This project aims to help restore […]

To read more...

Share your comment! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

To post your comment Login/Signup