The reserve's history
After the First World War the European bison was extinct in the wild — the last wild animals in the forest were killed in 1919. Of the whole world population 54 animals remained (mostly in zoos). In 1923 the International Society for the Protection of the European Bison was founded in Berlin, and in Poland people began to think about reintroduction into the wild.
1929 — the European Bison Show Reserve at Białowieża, on the site of the imperial menagerie from the Russian period. The first animals were brought from Sweden and Germany. In 1952 the first bison from Białowieża were released into the wild. Today the Polish population of some 700 animals in the forest and about 2,500 across the country descends genetically from those first Białowieża animals.
What is in the enclosures
- European bison — several animals in a large enclosure, which can be watched from close up (about 10–20 m)
- The Polish primitive horse (the Polish tarpan) — the restored breed of primitive forest horse
- Elk — Europe's largest deer; the antlered bull is seen only rarely
- Red deer and roe deer
- Wild boar — an enclosure with adults and often with young
- Lynx — a predator in its own enclosure, usually asleep in the shade
- Wolf — a pair, most often visible at dawn and dusk
- Żubroń — a cross between bison and domestic cattle (a curiosity of 20th-century breeding)
Worth knowing
The whole site has several kilometres of paths linking the enclosures. The walk takes 1.5–2 hours, the paths are flat and pushchairs can be used. Tickets: about 10 zł adults, 5 zł children, available on site. Open all year, with hours changing by season (shorter in winter).
The best time to watch: morning and late afternoon — at midday the animals usually lie in the shade and are not very active. The bison are fed at set times (ask at the entrance). A small restaurant by the entrance serves regional dishes and drinks.
Who it suits
The Show Reserve is the easiest place to see a European bison in Poland. Ideal for:
- Families with small children — short paths and easy viewing
- Older visitors — no fitness required
- Visitors on a short stay — the visit takes 1.5–2 hours
- Photographers — controlled conditions with the animals close by
- You will not see the wild forest here — this is a show centre, not a wilderness. But the animals are always there.
How to get there and practical info
- Address
- Białowieża National Park, the European Bison Show Reserve (3 km from Białowieża)
- Ticket
- About 10 zł adults, about 5 zł children
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Season
- All year (shorter hours in winter)
- Parking
- Free at the entrance
- Accessibility
- Pushchairs — yes
When to go
May — the most young animals in the enclosures. An excellent time.
At midday the animals sleep — come in the morning or late afternoon.
September — the deer rut, one of the most striking moments of the year.
Fewer people, and the animals in the snow are exceptionally photogenic.
Other sights in Białowieża
Straight-line distances from „The European Bison Show Reserve" — calculated from real coordinates. By road it is often further.
Where to stay nearby
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