Re-introduction of wood bison in Russia

Summary

Wood bison (Bison bison athabascae), extinct in Siberia for roughly 2,000-3,000 years though closely related to the modern Canadian subspecies, were reintroduced to the Republic of Yakutia by Russian and Yakutian wildlife authorities to create a geographically isolated insurance population, safeguarding the species' genetic form against catastrophe befalling the Canadian population, while restoring a large grazer to the Siberian ecosystem. Ninety bison were imported from Elk Island National Park, Canada, in groups of 30 over several years, founding a breeding center at Lenskii Stolby National Park and a second one 200 km away at Tyimpinay National Park, both sited in areas with low domestic livestock density to protect biosecurity; the animals successfully adapted to Yakutia's extreme winter cold (regularly below -40°C to -50°C) and summer mosquito pressure. Supplementary winter feeding is provided at both centers, though experiments releasing some males into the wild without winter feed also succeeded and are informing future free-ranging management. Population records show steady growth at both centers, with combined numbers rising from 28 animals in 2006 to 195 by 2013, aided by continued imports and successful annual births alongside a small number of losses and inter-center transfers. Ongoing challenges include the presence of bears in nearby national parks as a potential threat to the herds, though the project notes it continues with sustained government funding and support. No explicit success rating narrative was given, but the population trend and stated goals suggest the effort is considered on track, with continued monitoring planned to confirm sustainable, genetically diverse regeneration of the Siberian population.