Lithuanian Zoo – Stumbras chick (photo gallery)

A busy new resident

The newcomer of the zoo in Kaunas saw the world just a month ago, but during that time it has grown a lot and has been out with her mother for a few days, so visitors can meet the little resident.

« We are very pleased to have a new star. About a month ago, a bison borker was born. He is screaming around the walrier, full of strength. During that month he grew up twice, so it looks like it will be a healthy chick, » said Rimgailė Pėtelytė-Brazaitienė.

« The baby jumps under the obstacle course, explores the world, so it’s a lot of fun. We, like a bison kennel, have to choose the name that starts with Kau, this time we have a hairdresser because one supervisor GERDA looked after the trunks and loves them. »

Zoo staff noted that it was important to breed bison in order to maintain their gene pool.

Photo by Regimantas Zakšensk

A special relationship with the mom

With her little one, the 12 -year -old mother is very protective. When you get closer to admire the trunk, it begins to wake up more horns, no matter that the animals are separated from visitors. The little strumper sometimes escapes the volley alone, but when his mother calls, he quickly follows her.

« Mom Duin is very caring. This is her fourth chick, they have been successfully raised. Those bison under the breeding program have gone to other zoo or kennels. It is possible to see the mother vocal, thinks in different timbre, and says the chick, says where to stop. However, he is obedient anyway, ”said R. Pėtelytė-Brazaitienė, adding that the baby is still feeding on breast milk so far, but has already tasted both hay and has a green leaf.

Stumbriuk’s father Popkorn has been for 15 years. Zoo staff no longer expected him to become his father again, so he was very gratifying that he still succeeded. True, so far, the trunk is only spending time with my mother, and other bison are kept separately to prevent the baby from hurting. There were only a few meetings with Dad as well.

Photo by Regimantas Zakšensk

« The chick is still a bit too small, so his tribesmen may not count their strength, so he only lives with his mother so far. And the baby’s aunt, who is also expecting, lives separately with his dad, » said R. Pėlytė-Brazaitienė.

« We are watching the herd hierarchy. He has already met a dad he has been with, but it was really good. The child is interested in the world, now trying various boundaries, but Dad was quite solid, » said V. Jucyte.

Population has been restored

Zoo specialists reminded that the 20th century. In the beginning, during the interwar period, the bison in the wild was completely eradicated. Some European zoos have retained several individuals who helped revitalize this species.

When they began to be breeded, in 1952. In Poland, the first young bison was released, and in Lithuania the process began in 1973. The bison living in Lithuania belongs to the Plains Line population, which has been restored from seven individuals.

Mom is very caring. This is her fourth chick and has been successfully raised by them.

The Lithuanian Zoo has a valuable experience of breeding bison: female Duinos firstborn male is currently the main reproductor in the enclosure of Dzūkija National Park, and its offspring to release to increase the genetic diversity of the trunks living there. Other chicks of Durin have also successfully completed the bison population: one of them currently lives in Telšiai in Žvėrinčius and the other went to the Czech Republic under the International Breeding Program. A total of ten bison chicks were brought at the Lithuanian Zoo.

Based on 2023 According to the data, a total of about 300 bison now lives in our country. The main threats faced by these great mammals are the decline and poaching of habitats. An example of the history of bison shows how the giants of the forest giants were returned to nature thanks to the zoos and private collections.