Zubron (pronounced /ˈz(j)uːbrən/; Polish: Żubroń; [ˈʐubrɔɲ]) is a hybrid of domestic cattle and wisent. The wisent (żubr in Polish[1][2][3]) is the European bison hence the zubron is analogous to the American Beefalo. The name zubron was officially chosen from hundreds of proposals sent to the Polish weekly magazine Przekrój during a contest organised in 1969.[4]
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History
The zubron was first created by Leopold Walicki in 1847, although the hybrid may also have appeared at an earlier time. After World War I various scientists considered zubron a possible replacement for domestic cattle. Zubron turned out to be more durable and less susceptible to disease. In addition, the animal could be bred on marginal grazing land with no farm infrastructure and with minimal husbandry in huge state owned PGRs. From 1958 the work on zubron herds was continued by the Polish Academy of Sciences in various laboratories, most notably in Białowieża and Młodzikowo. During the first 16 years of experiments a total of 71 animals were born, including Filon, the first zubron born to a zubron mother (August 6, 1960). The animal was to become a durable and cheap alternative to cattle.
The experiment was continued until the late 1980s when the results of the breeding programes were deemed unsatisfactory. The severe economic difficulties of the Polish socialist economy in the 1980s, a lack of interest from the notoriously ineffective PGR, with no large private farms in eastern Europe as an alternative (an effect of communist land reform), and fears that zubron would crossbreed with the endangered wisent, contaminating their gene pool, all played a role in the decision. The two notable centres for experiments on the species were Łękno (391 animals altogether) and Popielno (121 animals), while limited experiments were also held in the reserve of Askania Nova in the USSR. This was discontinued and the sole surviving herd consists of several animals only, kept at Bialowieski National Park. However, as of 2007[update] there are press releases suggesting that the breeding and experiments are continuing in Karolewo in Greater Poland.[5]
Description
Zubron are heavy animals, with males weighing up to 1,200 kg (2,600 lb) and females up to 810 kg (1,800 lb). They are strong, resistant to disease and tolerant of harsh weather conditions. Males are infertile in the first generation. Females are fertile and can be cross-bred with both parent species, i.e. with cattle or wisent, and males from these backcrosses are fertile.
See also
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Żubroń |
- ^ Polish wikipedia page about the Wisent (Żubr), (Polish)
- ^ Russian wikipedia page about the Wisent (%D0%97%D1%83%D0%B1%D1%80), (Russian)
- ^ Bulgarian wikipedia page about the Wisent (%D0%97%D1%83%D0%B1%D1%8A%D1%80), Template:Bu icon
- ^ Zubron, www.zubry.com (Polish)
- ^ (Polish) ag (2007-03-05). "Żubr wyrzucony z Bieszczadów za przyjaźń z ludźmi". Gazeta Wyborcza (Agora SA). http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/1,53600,3965383.html.
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