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Bison population increases in Belarus' Belovezhskaya Pushcha

An archive photo

BREST, 13 March (BelTA) – The Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park has carried out the annual count of bison noting the increased number of its population, BelTA has learned from the scientific department of the park.

The park workers counted 604 bison at the beginning of 2020. Almost half of them are adult females (294 individuals). Quarter of the bison population (148 individuals) is the young stock (males and females aged 1.5-3.5 years). There are 84 adult males (14%) and 78 calves up to one year (13%). This year the bison population has increased by 32 individuals or 5% over last year when it numbered 572 bison. 

The annual count of bison in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park has been carried out since 1783. It makes it possible to answer the questions on the population dynamics, population features and preferences of habitat for winter. Bison herds are spread out over the whole territory of the National Park and the protected area. There are five bison groups in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha: northern, north-western, central, southern and southwestern.

Traditional methods for counting the population include observation at feeding sites and analysis of hoof prints. This year in order to establish the size, age and sex composition of the population, the national park engaged the forest and hunting services, scientific and bison supervision departments. The observations were made not only in the territory of the national park but also in the surrounding areas.

The winter without snow made scientists start considering other methods to keep tabs on the bison population. For example, starting from the next year, the scientific department is planning to use a quadcopter for this purpose. This will make it easier to count large herds in open spaces.

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