Bisons of Russia: past, present, future

Photo from the website of the national park "Orlovskoe Polesye"
Photo from the website of the national park "Orlovskoe Polesye"

The shooting of the documentary film "Bisons of Russia: past, present, future" dedicated to the largest population of the lowland European bison in our country was completed. The premiere of the movie will take place in the Orel Museum of Local History on June 27.

We would like to remind you that in 2016, the national park "Orlovskoe Polesye" received a grant from the Russian Geographical Society to create a film about the relationship between man and the bison and the work of environmental organizations and enthusiasts in the conservation of the species. 

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Photo from the site of the national park " Orlovskoe Polesye "
Photo from the site of the national park " Orlovskoe Polesye "

Five Protected areas of Russia (specially protected natural areas) (PARs) took part in the project: the national parks "Orlovskoe Polesye " - the center for the settlement of bison in Central Russia, Ugra, Smolenskoe Poozerie and Bryansky Les and Kaluzhsky Zaseki nature preserves. “Polesye” coordinated the grant’s work.

Filming in protected areas was conducted during the year. While shooting a special equipment was used that made possible to capture the life of forest giants in the wild in all details.

The operator Mikhail Khryashchev has shared his impressions: "More than a herd of bison, I was amazed by the enthusiasm of employees of protected areas by the work process, their dedication and love to these huge animals," he said.

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Photo from the site of the national park "Orlovskoe Polesye "
Photo from the site of the national park "Orlovskoe Polesye "

A documentary film will be screened in Orel, Kaluga, Bryansk and Smolensk, at various environmental education and environmental events for schoolchildren, teachers and visitors to the five protected areas participating in the project.

Bison is a wild forest bull, the largest ungulate animal in Europe. The length of his body reaches 3.5 meters, the height in the shoulder is 1.7 - 2 meters. The weight of the animal can reach one ton. Poaching, deforestation and burning of forests led to the fact that by 1927 the bison was completely exterminated in nature. The animal was saved from complete extinction due to the activity of nurseries and zoological gardens. To restore the population, the American bison was used. Now the world's number of bison is about 4500 animals, of which about 3000 animals live in freedom. Bison is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation as a threatened species.

The Oryol-Kaluga-Bryansk free-range bison population numbers more than 400 individuals and demonstrates a steady positive population dynamics.