Chemnitz (dpa / sn) - Two bison from the Chemnitz zoo will live in the Caucasus in the wild in the future. They were brought to Baku in Azerbaijan by cargo plane along with eight other animals from other European zoos, the city announced on Friday. Their destination is the Shahdag National Park, where, after an acclimatization period, they meet 31 other animals that have been brought there or were born there in recent years. The release is part of the conservation breeding program of the European Union of Zoos.
According to experts, bison were once widespread in Europe, but were wiped out in the wild by hunting and habitat destruction by the early 20th century. However, the species has survived in zoos. Through breeding and reintroduction, the animals could be resettled in some regions. In the meantime, the population is said to have grown again to more than 6000 animals.
According to the city, bisons have been kept and bred in the Chemnitz zoo since the 1980s. Some of the animals born here were already living in the wild, it said.
