Animal
European bison
Europe’s heaviest wild land mammal, whose survival depended on animals preserved in captivity.
Langue du contenu
The European bison is Europe's heaviest wild land mammal. An adult male is much more massive than a female and can weigh over nine hundred kilograms. Size does not make it a meat-eater, however: bison feed on plants and spend a large part of the day foraging. In Lubin, they represent Poland's wildlife on a trail opened in 2023.
Grasses and herbaceous plants form the basis of their diet. They also eat shoots, bark and other parts of trees and shrubs, as well as acorns in winter. An adult may consume up to sixty kilograms of plant material a day. This diet connects bison with both meadow vegetation and food available in woodland; it is not restricted to tree leaves.
Bison disappeared from most of their former range, and animals preserved in zoos helped save the species from complete extinction. Today, wild populations live in places including Białowieża Forest, the Carpathians and the Caucasus. The story of this animal therefore connects observing a large herbivore with the work of restoring populations.
Pour les enfants
The European bison is Europe's heaviest wild land mammal. An adult male can weigh more than nine hundred kilograms. Despite its huge body, it eats plants: grasses, herbs, shoots and bark. In winter, it also eats acorns.
It spends a large part of the day feeding. A large bison can eat up to sixty kilograms of plants in a day. It finds food both among meadow plants and in woodland. In Lubin Zoo, it is one of the animals on the trail devoted to Poland's wildlife.
Bison came close to disappearing completely. Animals preserved in zoos helped save the species. Today, wild bison live in places such as Białowieża Forest and the Carpathians. This giant also brings to mind the work of people who helped preserve its species.
Question 1 sur 2
How much plant material can an adult European bison eat in a day?
- Emplacement
- Fauna of Poland Trail - bison, number 42 on the map