Twenty million zloty (5 million euro) has been earmarked to protect the bison herd in Poland. 

Eighty five percent of the sum comes from EU infrastructure and environment funds and the remainder from Polish sources.

The project starts in 2011 in the north-east, Western Pomerania and in the Podkarpacie regions. 

A considerable slice of the money will go to north-east Poland and to the Białowieża forest, home to some of the most unspoilt primeval forest in Europe and what experts consider to be an overpopulation of bison.

That is why for several years now the animals, which are a protected species in Poland, are being relocated.  

Last year’s census totalled some 450 bison living in Białowieża in the wild, and another 40 at the Breeding Centre there. Other forest locations have about 90 bison each.

With the new project, it is also hoped that some bison can be moved to the Augustowska forest.

The project also includes genetic monitoring of the animals, which is hoped to bring new information that could later be used in scientific research on the bison.  (ek)