The first opposite-sex European bison twins born in the Stegaliai enclosure of Dzūkija National Park have been released into the wild, Lithuanian authorities announced Tuesday.
Along with the twins, two additional males and ten adult females were also released, according to the Vytautas Magnus University Academy of Agriculture.
The academy said the birth of these twins is a first in Europe. The animals have been registered in the European Bison Pedigree Book (EBPB), and it marks the first time in recorded history that twins of different sexes survived and were successfully released into the wild after strengthening in a controlled environment.
“The birth of European bison twins is an extremely rare phenomenon even on a global scale,” said Artūras Kibiša of the Vytautas Magnus University Academy of Agriculture. “There have been only a few cases in the entire modern history of monitoring the species.”
Since 2022, Lithuania has been carrying out a relocation program aimed at creating genetically strong and ecologically balanced herds of European bison living freely in the wild.
Over the past three years, a total of 46 young bison from free populations in Panevėžys, Kėdainiai, and Kaunas districts have been relocated to Dzūkija National Park. A specially equipped 103-hectare enclosure with quarantine and acclimatisation zones ensures the animals adapt smoothly before release.
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