The ongoing war in Ukraine is not only a human tragedy; it is also an ecological crisis. Among the hidden casualties is the wisent or the European wood bison (Bison bonasus), currently facing a significant setback in its conservation efforts due to the conflict. Once teeming across the European continent, the population of this majestic creature plummeted to near-extinction levels by 1927. Despite successful restoration initiatives in Ukraine and Russia, the Russian invasion in February 2022 presents a critical threat to the survival and revival of the wisent.
Understanding the Wisent
Also known as the European wood bison, the wisent stands as the largest and heaviest terrestrial mammal in Europe. Of its original three subspecies, only Bison bonasus bonasus remains extant due to the extinction of the other two.
The wisent thrives in various habitats, including grasslands and deciduous, mixed forests. As an ecosystem engineer, the animal has a key role in restoring grassland ecosystems, making its survival crucial to maintaining biodiversity.
Distribution and Conservation Status
The remaining wisent populations primarily exist in Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, the Russian Federation, Slovakia, and Ukraine. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the species is listed as “Near Threatened.”
Threats to the Wisent
The combination of rapid environmental changes and hunting by humans drastically reduced the number of the wisent across Europe. The current political unrest in Ukraine exacerbates these threats, casting a shadow over the species’ recovery and survival.
About the Invasive Species Specialist Group
The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) forms part of The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Established in 1994, this global network consists of scientific and policy experts focusing on invasive species.
Under the Species Survival Commission (SSC) of the IUCN, the ISSG manages the Global Invasive Species Database (GISD), a valuable resource that offers comprehensive information on invasive alien species globally.
In addition to this, the ISSG also maintains other digital resources. These include the Aliens-L listserv, the Invasive Species Compendium, the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species, and lastly, the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa.
These platforms provide crucial data for understanding and countering the impacts of invasive species, forming an integral part of several conservation initiatives. Despite the challenges posed by the current conflict, such endeavours remain key to preserving biodiversity and ensuring the continued survival of threatened species like the wisent.
Last Modified: February 22, 2024