- Europe
European Bison Advisory Center
European Bison Advisory Center was established to facilitate coordination of captive European bison breeding to preserve genetic variability of the species, make communication between breeders more simple and to be a source of actual information about European bison in certain breeding centers and enclosures.
Goals
What we need from breeders?
Project's background
EBAC's tasks
The organization
Website role
Funding
Desired output
Partners
Project co-ordinators
The main goal of the European Bison Advisory Center (EBAC) is to coordinate the process of the genetic variability maintenance of the species and to create platform of communication between European bison breeders, decision makers, conservationists and others.
According to Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan European Bison (IUCN 2004) the main task of International Network is the
"coordination of restitution, reintroductions, monitoring of captive and free-ranging herds, and most of all - gene pool preservation and genetic management of particular herds. This center must provide all kinds of information and be available to all interested users, possibly free of charge".
Therefore there is an urgent need to have better coordination of Action Plan implementation and bison activities in general, not just from a point of efficiency, exchange of expertise, but also to prevent dangerous, unprofessional activities (e.g. by private owners) that may lead to further losses of important animals, inbreeding, or mix up of both genetic lines of European bison.EBAC will fulfill this gap, and provide a platform for the implementation of the Action Plan, with combination of expertise, databases, international coordination of knowledge and experience exchange. EBAC will set and promote uniform standards and practices for bison breeding, reintroduction and restoration of free ranging bison populations. To really make the bison restoration a conservation success for Europe, the emerging and increasing international cooperation, needs to be organized, to successfully coordinate the efforts to restore this species and its habitats - as a symbol to regain wilderness in Europe.
Taking part in the program is free of charge, but to make the project the most efficient as is possible we require:
- providing information about every change
in the herd (birth, death and others) as soon as it's possible - agree to follow the rules(like not mixing two genetic lines of the species in one enclosure) and advise
- collecting tissue samples(blood, hair with follicles, small piece of dried skin or other tissues), whenever it is possible (e.g. during veterinary manipulations, after anaesthesia for transport purposes, from dead animals etc.) Bank of tissues is important because the most effective genetic evaluation requires supplementing pedigree analyses with molecular study results.
- active cooperation.
As EBAC cooperates closely with European Bison Pedigree Book (EBPB), only breeders accepted (i.e. regularly informing about all changes in the herd) by EBPB can profit of participation in EBAC.
We plan to certify breeders that put effort to save European bison genetic diversity and in future recommend contacts and animal exchanges only with certified breeders.
The European bison (Bison bonasus) - the largest mammal of Europe, has a status of endangered species according to IUCN Red List, and has been selected as a priority species under EU Habitat Directive. The world population of the European bison slightly exceeding level of 3000 individuals, is divided into two genetically different lines (Lowland and Lowland-Caucasian). A majority of the species is managed in free-living herds but its considerable part is maintained in captivity. Captive breeding plays a very important role in the maintenance of the genetic variability within the species, because most genetically valuable animals live in breeding centers. More than 200 breeding centers of different kind and size exist in Europe. The number of animals in those centers is around 1200 i.e. 40% of the whole world population. About 60 breeding centers participate in EEP program (European Endangered Species Program under EAZA umbrella) but that covers only 1/3 of the whole world population. Other part of European bison population - free-living herds - needs also very careful genetic and demographic management through planned reintroductions and restocking. It is important to facilitate communication not only among EAZA members, but to involve into the network all people engaged into breeding of this species. According to Species Action Plan, the long-term conservation program for European bison recovery, should include the continuation of the captive breeding of the species. The captive part of the world-wide population should be managed under the principles of conservation genetics. The program should ensure separation of the pure Lowland and the Lowland-Caucasian lines and avoid hybridization with any other related species. The captive breeding program should foster application of uniform rules aimed at maintaining or increasing genetic variability, and increase the number of herds and local population sizes. Continued should be the process of reintroduction and re-establishment of free-ranging populations into portions of the historical range. It is necessary to link isolated populations in a natural way or stimulate transfers of individuals from one herd to another. It is also very important to transfer all the founder genes as represented in the captive world population into free-ranging herds. Coordination of those tasks should be based on the European Bison Pedigree Book as the source of information. Initiated also should be the Gene Resource Bank (based on semen collection). Increasing since the last 10 years activities on bison reintroduction and re-establishment of free-ranging bison populations into parts of the historical ecological range should be continued and enhanced, but they need more coordination. To gradually create self sustainable meta populations, nature areas and habitats will have to enlarge and bison areas have to be connected and linked up. It is necessary to link isolated small populations in a natural way and/or stimulate transfers of individuals from one herd to another. It is also very important to transfer all the founder genes as represented in the captive world population into free-ranging herds. Coordination of those tasks by the EBAC, should be based on a continuously updated database on the situation/composition of free ranging herds and captive held animals. For this the European Bison Pedigree Book (EBPB) should be updated and upgraded as the most important source of information. The EPBP should become an integral part of the EBAC database/information management. This EBPB information can later be supplemented and enhanced with the data from the Gene Resource Bank, GRB (based on semen collection), when this data base will be operational. Initiation of the GRB is foreseen in the second phase of the EBAC project.
The goal will be achieved within detailed tasks:
- Coordination of the ex situ program for captive part of European bison (with adoption of rules from EEP program and cooperation with EAZA). Within this program providing information and advise about genetics using mainly the pedigree data but also information from molecular studies. Information which will be available to breeder are: genetic line, inbreeding coefficient, kinship value within actual living animals and within genetic line, contribution of ancestors, all above mentioned for every individual, as well as its position within herd and within animals of the particular line. A part of the program will be collection of information on the status of all animals of the species, carrying out demographical and genetical analyses, and preparation of a plan for the future management of the species. The coordinator of the program, together with the Board (elected within breeders and important partners), prepare each year recommendations on which animals should breed or not breed, which individual animals should go from one place to another, and so on.
- Providing website presenting information about current bison number, about breeding centers, reintroduction projects (with login part for breeders) and facilitating communication between breeders, experts and others.
- Collecting the information about surplus animals and needed ones in certain enclosures and advising on the optimal way of animal management.
- Providing information about the species, its biology, ecology, veterinary treatment, possible impact on the environment, and other data about species distribution, population size.
- Providing expertise for actual breeders and possible breeders - advising on technical aspects of European bison breeding, including: enclosure area, facilities, vegetation, animals group size and composition; scope of veterinary care; means and conditions of transport. For this task center will hire specialist from different areas and countries. The range of expertise will cover different condition (captivity, semi-free and free herd), organization of breeding, veterinary treatment etc.
- Preparing educational materials for all kind of audience (brochures, books, games, etc.) about European bison conservation on the framework of nature protection.
- Organizing meetings and technical conferences about European bison and its conservation.
- Working out the procedures of breeder certification as well as project evaluation.
- Initiation of the Gene Resource Bank
Main office
Main office is already placed at Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW (Poland), where in the end of 2007 EBAC was established. It aims to supervise and coordinate work ofwhole program in fulfilling above mentioned goals and plans.
Board of partners
The Board of partners - group of people, who represent institutions involved in the process of European bison restitution - like breeders, NGOs, scientists. The size of Board will be 9-11 person with Chair elected by the Board itself. The Board will be responsible for following issues:
- Working out general politics of EBAC, priorities, actions, etc.
- Raising funds for EBAC
- Meeting once a year to discuss the past and the future
The members of the Board will work voluntary (up to financial situation of EBAC will be better). Current activity will based on e-mail communication. The chair of the Warsaw office of EBCC, as well as regional offices chairs, will be a members of the Board by obligation. All future rules of organisation will be included into its statutes (work out during first meeting of Board) which will include work perspective, respective persons/positions, responsibilities and rules, regulations, finance and funding rules.
We assume that first meeting aiming to work out formal rules of EBAC's acting, the Board's constitution and other important issues will be organized in November 2008. Initial period will be time for gaining experience and facing unpredicted issues.
Regional centers
Regional centers will be established to operate in different regions and will close cooperate with main office. It is assumed that at least 4-5 such regional partners should be organized, possibly covering with its activity whole Europe.
The tasks for regional centers are:
- coordination of transport in the region
- comunication with breeders in the region
- collection of data from breeders in the region
- contacts with local authorities
- obtaining new breeders
- education and PR in the region
Website presents information about animals from different herds. Full genetic information included is available after logging-in. The genetic profile of animals will include line, contribution of founders genes, inbreeding value, relationship to other animals and some DNA results. The demographic analysis will be prepared as a basis for recommendation for exchanges among captive breeding centers, and to provide the list of most genetically valuable animals. The information provided by the EBAC, regarding the genetic importance and value of every animal, will be obtained through detailed pedigree analysis, allowing to assess the relationships between particular animals and between various herds. This kind of information could be also useful for reintroduction and restocking projects in various parts of Europe. The Center will also help in collecting samples from breeders for DNA analysis. Network members will be provided with current information about the value of individual animals, best breeding strategies, recommended exchanges and transfers. The project will be placed under umbrella of Bison Specialist Group SSC/IUCN and in cooperation with EAZA. Close cooperation with International Pedigree Book will be crucial for this project.
Initial funding for the set up of the EBAC will be provided by European Bison Friends Society. Funding for further necessary development of EBCC have to be supported by external fundraising with help of the Board of partners. The office will realize all tasks presented before.
Existing of the European Bison Advisory Center is funded by the European Bison Friends Society. Some informations, important if you want to donate, you will find here.
With professional advice and acting network, efforts towards species conservation will be more effective. Especially important is the development of international co-operation. There are already recorded symptoms of inbred like lowered resistance and reproduction rate, which may indicate that the existence of some present captive herds and wild populations is threatened, and the result may be the loss of unique genes from the gene pool of the species. There is growing interest in bison breeding by private owners, and in the introduction of the species to protected areas in many European countries. Establishment of a network of bison breeders, managers, scientists and conservationists to effectively exchange and disseminate information on bison breeding and conservation seems to be essential. The activities of the center should result in lower rate of genetic variability losses in European bison population and better use of resources. Increased should be the awareness of policy and decisions makers about the importance of international cooperation for the future of the species and it can result with changes of status of the species in Europe.
Following institutions/projects are involved in establishment and maintenance of EBAC:
- Bison Specialist Group IUCN/SSC
- Carpathian Bison Restoration Project
- EEP Program (EAZA)
- European Bison Friends Society
- Large Herbivore Foundation.
Wanda OLECH-PIASECKA - co-ordinator
Department of Animal Genetics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences
Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
tel:+48 22 593 65 78, Fax: +48 22 593 65 76
e-mail: wanda_olech(at)sggw.pl
Iza BUKOWCZYK - assistant
European Bison Friends Society
Ciszewskiego 8 pok. 42, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland
Tel/fax: +48 22 593 65 80
e-mail: izabela_bukowczyk(at)sggw.pl, ebac(at)sggw.pl