European Bison

Foreword.- Acknowledgements.- 1. Introduction.- 2. Systematics, registration and nomenclature.- 3. Morphology and longevity.- 4. Genetics.- 5. The original range of the species Bison bonasus (L.).- 6. The European bison and the aurochs on Polish territory.- 7. The natural population of Lowland European bison in the Bialowieza Forest.- 8. The restitution of the European bison in enclosures within the Bialowieza Forest.- 9. European bison in the Bialowieza Forest - a characterisation of the environment.- 10. The restitution of a free-ranging bison population in the Bialowieza Forest.- 11. The rhythm to bison activity.- 12. Reproduction.- 13. Behaviour patterns.- 14. Food and use of the environment.- 15. Social organisation of the population.- 16. The spatial structure of populations.- 17. Population management.- 18. The significance of the Bialowieza bison for the preservation and recognition of the species Bison bonasus.- 19. Threats to the species Bison bonasus.- 20. Bison as protected animals.- 21. Cooperation over the restitution of the European bison in the Bialowieza Forest.- 22. The restitution of bison in captive breeding in Poland.- 23. Restitution of free-ranging populations around the world.- 24. Hybrids between the European bison and domestic cattle.- 25. American bison a close relative of European bison.