# European Bison Region: Europe Source: https://spinplanet.app/animals/en/wisent/ The European bison is the largest land animal in Europe. It once disappeared completely from the wild, but people worked hard to bring it back. It has a sturdy body and curly brown fur. ## Quick facts - **Habitat**: It lives in Europe's big forests and meadows. - **Diet**: It eats grass, leaves, and acorns. - **Size and weight**: Height 1.8–2m, weight 400–920kg. - **Lifespan**: About 20 years - **Conservation status**: Near Threatened - **Fun facts**: It went extinct in the wild in 1927, but it made a comeback! / Every European bison alive today descends from just 12 animals. ## Learn more ### The great shaggy chief ruling Europe's forests, the European Bison A miraculous animal that overcame the brink of extinction ### Europe's heaviest wild animal Giant of the forest — a basic profile of the European bison - Growing up to 920kg, it's the largest land mammal in Europe. - It boasts a massive frame, standing up to 2.1m at the shoulder. - A peaceful herbivore, it eats 32kg of grass and leaves a day. ### How is it different from the American bison? They look similar, but these two cousins have distinct traits European bison vs American bison - The European bison has longer, sleeker legs, while the American bison has a very thick, heavy back. - The European bison has relatively short head hair, while the American bison has a shaggy, long forelock and beard. - The European bison's horns point forward, good for fighting in forests, while the American bison's horns curve upward. ### A peaceful herd led by a female chief The European bison's unique matriarchal society - An experienced older female leads the herd's movement and feeding. - Usually 8–13 females and their young gather into a small family herd. - Mature males roam around the herd, protecting the family from threats. ### A miracle that began with just 12 animals A great survival story, returning from the brink of extinction - **After 1927** — poaching and habitat destruction drove wild European bison to complete extinction. - **12 animals** — the only 12 individuals remaining in zoos became the ancestors of every European bison alive today. - **Over 9,000** — thanks to restoration efforts, more than 9,000 now roam free in nature. ### A forest buffet that changes with the seasons A varied diet for survival - In summer, it mainly enjoys fresh grass, herbs, and tender leaves. - In winter, it breaks through ice with its heavy hooves and gets by on bark and dry twigs. - By evenly consuming a variety of forest plants like moss, ferns, and mushrooms, it helps the forest's vegetation thrive. ### A forest hero fighting the climate crisis How can an animal absorb carbon? - As bison graze and trample the ground, they act as excellent gardeners, helping more plants grow in forests and grasslands. - Recent research shows that bison activity boosts a grassland's carbon-storage ability by as much as 10 times. - Restoring wildlife is one of the best and most natural solutions to solving climate change. ## More animals from this region - [Brown Bear](https://spinplanet.app/animals/en/brownbear/) - [Eurasian Lynx](https://spinplanet.app/animals/en/lynx/) - [Reindeer](https://spinplanet.app/animals/en/reindeer/) - [White Stork](https://spinplanet.app/animals/en/stork/) - [Hedgehog](https://spinplanet.app/animals/en/hedgehog/) - [Red Fox](https://spinplanet.app/animals/en/redfox/) --- All images and videos were made with AI to capture each animal's features, so they may look different from the real animals. The animal information comes from public sources and may contain mistakes.