IN PURSUIT OF THE EUROPEAN BISON Krakow is located within 30 km from the place where the European bison still live. The world’s population of these largest European mammals is estimated at about 6,000, out of which 25% live in Poland. They now inhabit Western and Central Europe as well as the Caucasus and can be found living in the wild only in Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Slovakia and Germany. In 1997, the European bison population was only 2,925 specimens (about 700 in Poland). Fortunately, the number of the European bison grows each year. In 2013, it was estimated at about 5,249. The animals live mainly in mixed wetland forests. In the Niepołomice Forest, which is the place near Krakow mentioned above, live about 30 European bison. Every year, Run in Pursuit of the European Bison is organised there to honour the animals. This year, brave members of MAEM Runners Team have decided to join lovers of these fascinating animals. And here is where it all began… The fastest of the fast appeared at the start, including: • •
Barbara from Finance Department Marika from Managment System Department Angelika from Managment System Department Kamil from Marketing Department Aleksander from Sales Department Jakub from Sales Department Błażej from Logistic Department
20,000 years ago, the European bison (Bison Bonasus) inhabited nearly the whole Europe and in the 19th century, it could be found only in Poland and in the Caucasus Mountains. In 1919, the last specimen of the lowland European Bison living in the wild died in the Białowieża Forest and the year 1925 saw the death of the last highland European Bison in the Caucasus.
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At the International Nature Conservation Congress held in 1923, Poland appealed for support to save the European bison. The naturalists from other countries were won over and in the same year, the International Society for the Protection of the European Bison was established. The species future depended on several dozen specimens that survived in zoos and private preserves. After World War II, Poland became the world centre of the European bison breeding.
In addition to MAEM Team 1200 runners took up the challenge of 8 km run in the picturesque scenery of the Niepołomice Forest.
14 | Summer 2019 | MAEM. I like it!
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After the run, the tired MAEM Team agreed they were not done yet and they would make headlines eventually. Obviously, we will keep you posted on that.
