The largest bison transport in history has successfully arrived in Azerbaijan. The Prague Zoo and the Olomouc Zoo have been instrumental in saving the endangered ungulates by sending their bison to the Shahdag National Park. Read how the arduous journey by plane and trucks went and why the return of European bison to the wild in the Caucasus after 100 years is a key milestone for the protection of the world's biodiversity.

When, early last century. zubři extinct in the wild, fortunately it was not definitive, they were saved by captive-bred individuals. To this day, thanks to breeding, they have been returned to the wild in many places. Their original home zubrů byl i Kavkaz, and even there they are now returning after a hundred years. Their return is due, among other things, to Zoo Praha a Zoo Olomouc.

Zoo Prague and Zoo Olomouc collaborate on a global reintroduction

The transfer that he organized Tierpark Berlín and the German arm of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), was the largest of its kind. In total, at the foot of the Velkého Kavkazu eighteen animals headed to the Shahdag National Park posílí tamní reintroduced population ve volnosti.

"Čeští zubři have become part of one of the biggest reintroduction projects of its kind in the world, which provided Tierpark Berlín. A total of 12 individuals (plus another six bison from the mountains) Rothaar v North Rhine-Westphalia), who were gathered here from zoologických zahrad celé Evropy: z Tierpark Berlin, Wisentgehege Springe/Sosto Zoo, Tierpark Neumünster, Tierpark Chemnitz, Alpenzoo Innsbruck, ze Zoo Praha a Zoo Olomouc," says zoologist Ing. Jitka Vokurková.

"Spolupráce zoologických zahrad is irreplaceable. Without it, we could not carry out such projects or even think about them. I'm glad that Česká republika has a footprint in this international initiative. In addition to the převozu zvířat we are also contributing to spreading awareness of zoos as key institutions for ochranu přírody,” says the curator of ungulate breeding Zoo Praha Barbora Dobiášová.

Transport of bison from Europe to Baku: Boeing and trucks

The selection of specific individuals was the responsibility of the coordinator European Enrichment Programme (EEP) pro zubry evropské, which is based in Berlin. The age, health and genetic suitability of each candidate played a major role. The animals were 2024 transported to the German capital, where she had the opportunity to get acquainted before her journey.

Berlínská zoo poté koordinovala letecký transport z Frankfurtu do Baku nákladním Boeingem 777F and their overland journey by truck to NP Shahdag. They were then released into an acclimatization pen where they will now get used to the conditions. They will then head to the volné přírody, i.e. into the local vast deciduous forests.

Photo: WWF - Emil Khalilov

The project Return of the bison to the Caucasus: Shahdag National Park as a new home

Shahdag National Park was established in 2006 and with 130,000 hectares is the largest in Ázerbájdžánu i na celém Kavkazu. Reintroduction Centre is located at its eastern end and was established in 2018. The following year, the project began Return of the bison to the Caucasus, under which the Ázerbájdžánu přepraveno již 64 zubrů.

With its extensive mountain, forest and open landscapes, the protected area offers zubrům excellent conditions, so they are already breeding successfully. Last year alone, nine chicks were born there, currently in Shahdagu there are about 90 of these ungulates. The aim of the project is to create a self-sufficient populaci zubrů in their original habitat.

"Právě Kavkaz byl pro zubry the last refuge a hundred years ago. Návrat zubra after a century is of special significance for our region. Local communities, schools and visitors get involved in our work and experience first-hand how they work ekosystémy and what role they play in it ohrožené druhy,“ explains Zeynab Khalilova, Project Manager WWF Ázerbájdžán.

Saving the European bison: From the IUCN Red List to the wild

Dnes se ve volné přírodě nachází celkem přes 2800 zubrů. Several thousand more live in fields, fenced pastures and zoos. Na IUCN Red List of Threatened Species má dnes proto zubr evropský status "téměř ohrožený". It is therefore not considered to be in danger of extinction.

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