Berezinsky reserve seeks to increase its herd of wisents

VITEBSK, 4 January (BelTA) - Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve is negotiating with foreign partners a possibility of obtaining pure-bred wisents, BelTA learnt from Valery Ivkovich, deputy director for research of the Berezinsky Biosphere Reserve. Population of wisents at the Berezinsky Reserve numbers about 35 animals. These large mammals - the heaviest of living in Europe – were first brought to the reserve in 1974. Several males and females were taken from the then-Prioksko Terrasny Reserve (Moscow Oblast). These animals became the parents of the current herd. In fact, it consists of closely related animals, which leads to genetic degeneration. “Berezinsky wisents need fresh blood,” Valery Ivkovich said. In this respect the reserve is negotiations a possibility of obtaining free of charge several pure-bred wisents from the Polish Center for Wisent Studies.

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