The biggest bison. Bison in Russia. Distribution of wild bison

• KEY FACTS
• Name: European bison, or bison (Bison bonasus)
• Area: Reserves in Eastern Europe
• The number of typical social group: 20-40 animals in the family, at certain periods bison form herds of several thousand heads
• Pregnancy period: 9 months
• Independence: 1 year
• Territory: 30-100 sq. km, depending on the season and food availability

The American bison is also known as the buffalo. It is known that American Indians with special reverence treated these animals. They roamed along with herds of bison, thanks to which they provided themselves with food and clothing.

The bison is the largest land mammal on the European and North American continents.

There are two types of bison: European bison, or bison (Bison bonasus) and American bison, or American buffalo (Bison bison). Bison are distinguished by a massive body structure, they have a powerful chest, and the withers protrude with a hump. These animals belong to the order Artiodactyla (artiodactyla). The bison is in many ways similar to a large cow. These species are indeed so close that they can interbreed.

Even 150 years ago, the bison population was incredibly large. In open american prairies their gigantic herds included hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of heads. Due to the hunting of bison, the populations of these animals were destroyed on both continents. Already by 1920 bison disappeared from the wild, and the number of American bison was reduced to several hundred heads. Scientists sounded the alarm, and thanks to their active actions, this giant was saved. Today, about 3,200 bison live on the territory of Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan and Lithuania. The American bison population is much larger: there are now about half a million of these animals. Such a number is due, in particular, to the fact that bison are bred on private ranches.

Although bison live mainly in reserves and sanctuaries, they are also released outside of these areas. Therefore, today in social behavior these animals have features characteristic of huge herds common in the past.

Unlike the American bison, the bison lives in wooded area so his diet is more varied.

Due to the insignificant population of bison, they cannot form large herds. Therefore, conclusions about their behavior are made on the basis of observations by scientists of the 18th and 19th centuries. after the American bison, since the way of life of this species in many ways resembles the features of the existence of the bison.

Life in the herd

Most of the year bison live in small herds. The main social unit is a group of related females and their offspring - newborn cubs and calves aged 1 to 3 years. Bulls live as hermits or small bachelor groups. This state of affairs changes during the mating season, called the rut. During this period, males join the female herds.

Usually a herd of bison consists of 10-20 heads. It is controlled by the eldest female, who is the mother and grandmother of most members of the group. The daily diet of bison should be 2-3% of their body weight, so the herd is in constant motion. They devastate pastures very quickly and often have to move to a new place. Unlike American bison, which graze in the meadows, bison seek food in the forest. All year round they feed on leaves, bark and branches, in spring their diet is replenished with tender grass and greens, and in autumn - mushrooms, acorns, nuts and fruits.

Bison have a keen sense of smell, which they need in order to recognize the presence of other animals. This is especially important for the bison, which lives in the forest.

Bison herds have very close family relationships. There are cases when bison come to the bodies of their dead relatives, as if they were visiting them. This behavior makes bison related to elephants.

herd structure

During the rut season, many herds come together. Since bison live in the forest, their common herd cannot be numerous, but American bison form herds of several thousand animals. Merging of herds occurs not only during the mating season, but also, for example, in spring, when bison go in search of food and water, or in autumn for joint migration. Herds living in mountainous areas can move to lowland areas by winter, while covering distances of up to 500 km. Today, such migrations are much less spectacular than they were during the time of the large population of these animals, when herds of millions of bison migrated together.

However, bison herds do not always unite. For example, during harsh winters, when it is incredibly difficult to find food and every animal is fighting for survival, the herds are divided into several groups.

Cold climatic conditions not afraid of bison. With massive heads, they dig up snowdrifts, the height of which reaches half a meter, and get to grass, lichens and moss. In winter, water is usually not available, so bison eat snow. To conserve strength in the cold, the herd moves as little as possible. When snow and ice make it difficult to forage in the harshest winters, bison still decide to travel in search of food. Often this turns into disaster: every two out of three bison die, and the survivors lose a lot of strength and suffer from exhaustion. In the spring, they tend to quickly replenish their fat stores in order to get into a healthy shape during the rutting season.

Gon

Like other artiodactyls, once a year European bison have a rutting season that lasts from August to October. At this time, bulls demonstrate their superiority over each other in order to gain the right to mate with females in a fight.

Late summer, rutting season. These bulls in the prairies of South Dakota (USA) fought for the right to mate with a female. Their main weapons are strong foreheads and muscular shoulders.

The competition of males begins with a roar competition, which is heard within a radius of several kilometers and demonstrates the strength and endurance of bulls. To prove its superiority, the buffalo bows its head, beats with its hoof, raises its tail, and sometimes butts a tree. At this moment, one of the participants in the confrontation usually recognizes the strength of the opponent and retreats. However, it happens that the conflict between the males arises again, when the pair has already formed, and the bulls begin to attack each other. A strong forehead allows the buffalo to use its head as a battering ram, and the characteristic withers, formed by powerful muscles, help to hold strong blows. Violent battles of males do not last long, and sometimes rivals get seriously injured.

The rutting period for bulls is very stressful, since only the strongest male can mate with females and pass on their genes to the next generations. At this time, they eat little and lose up to 10% of body weight. The whole herd becomes much more restless and aggressive than usual, and it is during the rut that the buffalo pose the greatest danger.

That bull, which defended its superiority in battles, mates with most of the females in the herd and does not leave it for several months. At the end mating season male returns to bachelor life. Sometimes the same bull leads the battle for many years until he is defeated by a younger and stronger male. From that moment on, the defeated bison leads a solitary lifestyle.

The bull usually mates with females from the herd in September and October. A pregnant female carries a cub for 9 months and leaves the herd before giving birth. She brings one calf. It differs from adult animals in its characteristic red-brown color. After an hour or two, the calf is able to stand on its own, but the mother returns to the herd only when the baby is a few days old and can keep up with the herd. For the first few months, babies do not move far from their mother. Females fiercely protect calves, and predators do not risk approaching a female with a cub.

The coat color of these young American bison is rather dull: most calves are usually dark reddish-brown. Brown color. Babies are born in the spring, when pastures abound with food.

Youth education

Newborn calves do not have characteristic withers. It begins to form when the baby is two months old. Calves try to nibble grass a few weeks after birth, but for another 6-8 months they feed on their mother's milk. After two or three years, young males leave the herd to form small bachelor groups. By this time, the females reach sexual maturity, but remain with the herd. Bulls complete development only by the age of five or six.

In such a strong and large animal as a bison, in wild nature few enemies. Early settlers in North America considered it the second most endangered wild animal after the grizzly bear. The European bison has an unpredictable character: a calm state during a stay on a pasture can instantly change into aggressiveness.

Zubram is not afraid of such natural enemy like a wolf. Bison have excellent hearing and smell, and although they cannot see small details, they catch any movement for half a kilometer. Despite the huge body mass, bison are surprisingly agile and mobile. An adult animal is very hardy, can run at speeds up to 50 km / h and jump over a 2-meter fence or a river of three meters wide. In the event of an attack, the bison usually butts or tramples the enemy, inflicts strong blows with its hind legs and injures with sharp horns.

The European and American bison species are descended from a hoofed ancestor that survived ice Age, which is why modern bison are resistant to cold. European species penetrated through Siberia and the Isthmus of Alaska to North America and separated into a separate species.

Most predators only attack weak members of the herd, such as newborns, old or sick animals. But in any case, predators are afraid to approach a herd of bison one by one. In the event of an attack by enemies such as a pack of wolves, the herd forms a circle, in the center of which the calves remain.

american bison

The build of the American bison is heavier than that of the bison, its withers are larger, but the body is somewhat smaller in size, and the horns are thinner. The American bison is less wary of humans. He is much louder than the bison. Communication plays a very important role in the numerous herds of American bison, which occupy larger spaces than bison.

Such differences in social organization bison and bison, obviously, explain the more massive body structure american style. Since the herds are predominantly large, the rivalry between the bulls is very intense. To win the battles, the male American bison must make a lot of effort.

Even just from the sight of these animals, horror seizes, a shiver runs through the body. This is a huge bison. The ancient Indians considered these individuals to be sacred. Their population today is small. About this amazingly strong animal, about where the bison lives (in what zone of the planet), about its features can be found in this article.

They are distinguished by their surprisingly voluminous size and large massive physique. They are similar in appearance with teeth. And in nature, even with the latter, they interbreed with each other, in connection with this they are combined into one species.

Description

Where does the bison live, on what continent do these amazingly large animals live?
Before we find out, let's look at what they are.

The bison has striking dimensions: the height at the withers is up to 2 meters, the body length is up to 3 meters. The weight of males is approximately 1.2 tons. These are the largest terrestrial animals. Bison females, like most animals, are significantly inferior to male relatives. Their body weight is approximately 700 kg.

The body of a bison covered with thick hair has grey colour with a brownish tint. Their color can vary from light red to dark brown and almost black tones. Baby calves are born with a yellow coat color, but over time it darkens. Light (almost white) bison are quite rare.

The coat is longer and darker in bison on the chest, head and beard, and is shorter on the rest of the body. This feature gives the appearance of the animal even more volume and menacing.

The head of a bison is quite massive, with a wide forehead. Thick and short horns, diverging to the sides at the very base of the head, are bent inward at the ends. This animal has narrow and small ears, a massive and short neck, large dark eyes.

most characteristic feature The structure of the bison is an unusual hump, which is located on its nape.

Where does the bison live?

The mainland on which bison live is North America. For a long time, bison (or buffalo) lived in almost the entire territory. But today, this population exists only in the northern and western parts of the river. Missouri.

The populations of wood bison remained very small. These individuals live mainly in the most dense and swampy forests of the Buffalo, Birch (and Great Slave) and Pis river basins.

Today, bison are raised commercially. Their number is approximately 500 thousand heads ( for the most part steppe bison). About 4000 private ranches North America used for their breeding.

Approximately 30 thousand individuals live in the wild, and they are listed in the Red Book as a species that is on the verge of extinction.

Species, subspecies

In nature today there are two subspecies: forest (forest bull) and steppe. They differ in the cover of the fur and the features of the structure of the body. Where do bison of these species live? And how are they different?

The steppe bison is a large ungulate animal, weighing up to 700 kg. It is slightly smaller in weight and size than the forest. A rather large head has a large mop of thick hair between large horns and the same thick beard. Its hump rises above the bases of the front legs. One of the distinguishing features of the steppe bison is a pronounced throat, which is extended beyond chest. The thick fur has

The forest bison, as noted above, is larger than the steppe bison. But his head is slightly smaller and framed by darkish bangs, his horns are long and thin. It also possesses a vestigial throat and hump. The wood bison's coat is dark red and not very dense. The weight of the male often exceeds 900 kg. The fur of this species is darker and warmer.

habitats

Wood bison first became known at the end of the 19th century. Scientists believe that their ancestors were primitive bison.

Where do bison live? And where did they live? The beginning of this genus was laid once (the genus Leptobos), who lived in the Pliocene (about 35,000 years ago) in India. Today there is a hypothesis that it was they who spread north to the wide steppes and evolved into steppe bison.

From the expanses of the Siberian bison, through the earthly passage that existed at that time, he got to North America. This version appeared in connection with the discovery in 1979 in Alaska (Yukon Island) of a fossil specimen of this bull.

And where do bison live (in which country)? In addition to Canada and the United States, American wood bison are currently being reintroduced back to Alaska. The very first batch of them in the amount of 53 individuals was brought to these places in 2008.
But, despite the efforts made to save the population, the future of bison remains in question. Dangers for their lives: various diseases that massively affect cattle, and their mixing with steppe bison, which is undesirable.

Animal behavior

Where do bison live in different times of the year? They lead a nomadic lifestyle. In summer they live on the spacious northern plains, and in winter they migrate to the southern areas. In those days when there were many of them, they walked in huge inspiring herds (thousands of individuals), occupying vast territories. Moreover, they chose the route themselves, and it was connected with watering places.

During periods of such migrations, there were cases when these herds blocked the movement of trains, steamboats stopped.

And how do they behave with their relatives where bison live in herds? In essence, these animals are herd animals. Their family organization is in many ways similar to the habits of bison. Females and males outside the breeding season are kept separately.

After the birth of calves, females with their cubs form groups, which include up to 30 individuals. Males usually graze alone, but sometimes in bachelor herds (up to 15 individuals). Compared to the old days, bison form aggregations in pastures, consisting of only a few hundred individuals.

At night, bison sleep, but their sleep is short. They graze around the clock. In general, this is a calm and balanced animal, but in rare cases (when anxious) they are able to show aggression. Despite their huge body mass, bison can develop great speed(about 50 km / h), and while running they make sounds (snoring or grunting).

Conclusion

Where bison live, we found out. But it should be remembered that a long time ago, in the vast expanses of the middle section of the northern American continent, their total strength was approximately 60 million individuals.

Of course, it is impossible to return that number, but with certain common efforts of people, it is possible to at least stop the decline in the number of such an exotic animal and even increase it a little.

International scientific name

bison bison Linnaeus, 1758

Synonyms

bison americanus

conservation status

Systematics on Wikispecies

Images at Wikimedia Commons

ITIS NCBI

Among bison of ordinary brown and light brown color, individuals of a sharply abnormal color can be found.

Within the species, two subspecies are distinguished - plains bison (Bison bison bison) and wood bison (Bison bison atabascae), well distinguishable by structural features and fur cover.

Plains bison (Bison bison bison)

Wood bison (Bison bison atabaskae)

Features of the structure and fur cover of the plains bison - Bison bison bison:

• Large head, dense cap of hair between the horns, horns rarely protrude above the cap of hair
• The highest point of the hump above the front legs, a thick beard and a pronounced mane of the throat, extended beyond the chest, a well-defined fur cape, a color lighter than a forest bison
• Smaller and lighter than wood bison (within the same age and sex),

Features of the structure and fur cover of the forest bison - Bison bison athabascae:

• Reduced head, dark bangs of hanging strands above the forehead, horns usually protrude above the bangs
• The apex of the hump is in front of the forelegs, a thin beard and a rudimentary mane of the throat, an indistinct fur cape, the coat is usually darker than that of the plains bison
• Larger and heavier than the plains bison (within the same age and sex).

Wood bison were discovered in late XIX in. Some scientists consider the wood bison to be a subspecies of the primitive bison (Bison priscus) that has survived to this day. Until now, they have survived only in deaf swampy spruce forests in the basins of the Peace, Buffalo, Birch rivers (flow into the Athabasca and Great Slave lakes).

The number of bison kept for commercial use is about 500,000 head (mostly plains bison) on about 4,000 private ranches. However, according to the IUCN Red List Guidelines, commercial herds are not eligible to be considered in the Red List guide, so the total bison population is estimated at approximately 30,000 individuals, of which 20,000 have reached puberty. In the IUCN Red List, the species is defined as being in a state close to threatened (NT) - (NEAR THREATENED).

Genetics

The Bison bison species has a diploid set of 60 chromosomes (2p 60).

American bison interbreed freely with European bison, giving fertile offspring - bison.

The presence of bovine genes is almost ubiquitous among commercial plains bison herds tested to date, as a legacy of a long effort to create improved breeds of cattle (Bos taurus) and bison. Many community herds also have variable levels of bovine gene introgression.

Legal status

Spreading

Formerly bison, or buffalo, as it is called by North Americans, was distributed almost throughout North America, but now it is found only north and west of the Missouri.

Mass extermination in the USA

In the 19th century, the American bison population underwent mass extermination for commercial purposes. Indian tribes, having firearms and horses, began to kill more buffalo than they needed for food and skins, selling the surplus to American traders. Huge numbers of American hunters killed hundreds of thousands of bison every year for the skins, which were in great demand both in the US and in Europe. American pastoralists slaughtered bison to make territory and resources for their livestock. Bison meat was fed to US Army soldiers from posts located on the plains, as well as construction workers. railways. Buffalo hunting also became a popular pastime, attracting even Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich during his visit to North America in 1872. The US authorities were reluctant to take measures to protect the bison population, realizing the detrimental effect of extermination on the life of the Indians, whom the government, not without problems, tried to relocate to the lands allocated in the reservations. According to researchers, in 1800 the number of bison was 30-40 million animals, and by the end of the century they were almost completely exterminated: less than one thousand remained. The creation of Yellowstone National Park in 1872 was the first event to avoid complete disappearance kind. However, the laws of those times only prohibited commercial hunting on federal lands, which was used by poachers to avoid responsibility. Military patrols were not able to put an end to poaching, and only in 1894 a law was passed completely prohibiting any hunting of all animals unauthorized by the park management.

Bison as a symbol

The bison, as the largest and most famous animal in North America, was bound to get on US banknotes (coins and banknotes).

Bison in philately

1898 U.S. Postage Stamp - 4 cents, Buffalo Hunt Indian

The first postage stamp depicting an American bison was issued back in the century before last - on June 17, 1898 in the USA as part of a commemorative series for the Trans-Mississippi Exhibition. Since that time, postage stamps with the image of the American bison have been issued

Bison is artiodactyl mammal family of bovids. Wild big bull known for its large sizes and physical power, as seen in the photographs of the bison. This is the largest herd animal, reaching a height of 2 m, a length of 2.5-3 m, with a weight of 800 kg to 1200 kg.

Bison look.

Habitat

Previously, bison were distributed almost throughout North America. The so-called "buffalo" today are found closer to the west and north of the Missouri. There are plains and forest bison. The first subspecies lives in sparse forests, the second is found in the steppe.

Below is a photo of bison of two species.

Appearance

The closest relative of the bison is bison. It is very difficult to distinguish a bison from a bison in a photo. Between themselves, they are similar in body proportions and color, but the first more massive animals. home distinguishing feature bison is a high withers, which forms a kind of hump in the shoulders. The animal has a very wide forehead, a short neck and a low head. The bison has a particularly thick and long hair, growing up to 50 cm. It covers the hump, shoulders, partly legs, head and neck. The hair on the head has a gray-brown color, on the neck it is black-brown. On a massive head are thick short horns, twisted ends inward. The legs of this animal are low, but very strong.

Photo of a bison in winter.
The bison are crossing the river.
Photo of a bison.

Key Features

At first glance, it may seem that the clumsy carcass moves slowly and with great difficulty across the steppes of North America. But this powerful and unpredictable animal, feeling threatened, can overcome great distances, while developing a speed of 50 km / h. They gallop, swim across rivers, jump over obstacles. Therefore, despite big weight, bison are quite mobile.

Also, the bison has a well-developed sense of smell. He can smell danger at a distance of 2 km. This animal is not aggressive, but driven into a corner, it quickly goes on the attack.

By nature, these bulls are quite inquisitive animals. They can watch with interest newborn bison. Having found a dead relative by smell, they kick him with their heads, in the hope that he will get up.

Bison in winter.

What do bison eat

In summer, the diet of the steppe species of bison mainly includes grassy vegetation; in forest bison, in addition to grass, branches of shrubs and trees, leaves, and shoots are widely used. In winter, grass rags, lichen and moss are eaten. They often graze in the morning and evening. AT winter time can find food under snow cover up to 1 m deep. Newborn animals feed on mother's milk.

Once a day, bulls visit watering holes. If the water is completely covered with ice, they eat snow.

Bison at the waterhole.

Immigration

To date, animals are not able to immigrate, as their habitat is limited to national parks, around which the lands of companies and farmers stretch. Previously, bison made distant regular migrations to the south, and by spring they returned back to the north.

reproduction

The beginning of the mating season begins in May and lasts until September. Males are polygamous, they do not form a pair with one female. At this time, skirmishes are likely between males, reaching not only serious wounds, but also fatal outcomes.

After mating, the female leaves the herd and carries offspring for 9 months. As a rule, one calf is born, although there are cases of twins. Very rarely, a female gives birth in the presence of a herd, where adult bison express special interest in the newborn by licking it. The weight of the calf does not exceed 25 kg, it has no horns and a mound at the withers. The first year of life, the mother stays close to the cub and protects it from dangers.

After 2-3 years, bison reach sexual maturity. They live up to 20 years in the wild and 25-30 years in captivity.

Bison with a cub.
The tenderness of bison.
Bison care.