New Baby Bison at Aspinall Foundation Park

Great news for the Aspinall Foundation last week, as two new bison joined the herd of 11 that already reside at their Port Lympne Wild Animal Park near Ashford in Kent. The two new youngsters, both boys, have delighted the hoofstock keepers with their strength and agility already after only just a few days.

The number of European bison, or Wisent, has fallen dramatically worldwide, with them now teetering on the edge of extinction. Thankfully, there are more than 3000 alive across the planet thanks to various captive breeding programs to increase their number. They were once widespread across Europe and Northern Asia, but due to hunting for their skin and horns, they were almost completely wiped out.

Thanks to this kind of breeding programme by the likes of the Aspinall Foundation, a number of herds that have been bred in captivity have been re-established in semi wild areas of both Russia and Eastern Europe. Hopefully, this will see a rise in their population in the wild and increase their number until they can be taken off the endangered list.

Head of Hoofstock Section, Bob Savill, said –

The young boys are strong and sturdy – just as they should be, and visitors can watch them kicking up their hooves in the paddocks. It’s incredible to think that this species was once teetering on the brink of extinction, every birth is a very welcome addition to the herd.

Congratulations to the keepers at the Port Lympne Wild Animal Park on their two latest Bison recruits, here’s hoping that more can be re-introduced into the wild to increase their number to a stable amount.