First wild bison born in Britain in 6,000 years

A female calf frolicking in the forest is completely unaware of her place in history. The addition to the herd comes just three months after the buffalo were introduced to the forests as part of a woodland resettlement project near Canterbury in the UK.

Bison roamed Britain about 6,000 years ago and are thought to have been hunted to extinction. Today, they have been brought back to the forests, but such an early replenishment was a real surprise.

Forest rangers Tom Gibbs and Donovan Wright noticed the birth of the calf on September 9th. This was unexpected as bison show no obvious signs of pregnancy.

Tom Gibbs: “Pregnancy is difficult to detect in bison because they naturally hide it to avoid being hunted by predators, it’s a survival mechanism. Although it was a surprise to us to see that a young female bison had given birth, we already had a clear plan for taking care of the telescope. These animals are wild so we want to stay away as much as possible, but their welfare is at the core of what we do. The baby is being watched by experts and we are constantly monitoring the entire herd to ensure their well-being.”

The birth of the bison cub was not immediately announced as Britain was in mourning following the death of Her Majesty the Queen on Thursday 8 September the day before.

Bison are real helpers of wildlife. As they roam, they trample trees and shrubs, allowing light to filter through the forest canopy, creating space for other plants to grow, and carry seeds through the forest in their woolly coats.

Mark Hubben, Director of Zoos, Wildwood Trust: “Innovative projects like this one are by nature always full of surprise, but this addition to the herd has been a real miracle. We are happy that mother and calf are doing well and look forward to seeing the herd continue to grow and prosper.”

Paul Hadway, Director of Wildlife Conservation, Kent Wildlife Trust: “European bison is a species that was on the brink of extinction after the First World War. And that their numbers now exceed 9,000 is a true testament to the dedication of international breeding efforts.”

Christina DENYSYUK

Photo: Donovan Wright / SWINS; Kent Wildlife Trust