Until now, there were 6 bison living at Tierwelt Herberstein. Now, the herd has received “female reinforcements” in two ways. On May 3, 2019, a bison calf was born. Since the arrival of the one-year-old female bison Arizona from Schönbrunn last week, the herd now consists of 8 animals.

“Upon arrival, the bison was initially separated from the other animals, as the results of the required blood test were still pending,” reports Dr. Reinhard Pichler, the zoo’s director and veterinarian. After waiting a few days, she was successfully integrated into the herd. The young bull Texas, born in 2016, continues to lead the group.

“The new arrival is a genetic excellent fit for our group and thus perfectly expands the gene pool. Nothing stands in the way of further breeding,” says the Herberstein veterinarian.

After all, offspring among bison are not a given. At the end of the 19th century, there were fewer than 100 animals. It was only with the establishment of protected areas, such as Yellowstone National Park, that this species—often mistakenly referred to as “buffalo”—was successfully saved. The population has since grown; on the North American continent alone, there are now approximately 500,000 animals.