Forestry official Marek Marecki from Krosno in southeastern Poland said Friday a count this month found that a wild herd that usually lives close to the border was missing. The herd accounts for up to 20 of the 300 bison that live in the region.

Marecki says bison have previously crossed into Ukraine.

He hopes they won’t fall victims to poachers or return injured, as has happened before.

Wild bison were nearly wiped out in Poland a century ago but the population has gradually recovered since.
 

In Texas, an effort to save the last herd of southern Plains bison seems to be working, thanks to a donation of bison bulls media mogul Ted Turner made to the state.

Researcher James Derr of Texas A &M says Southern and Northern bison look alike, but Southern bison have unique genetic traits that make them worth saving.

Only 53 were left six years ago, and researchers concluded severe inbreeding threatened the herd’s survival unless something was done to increase its genetic diversity.

Turner stepped up and donated three bulls. Researchers bred two that produced 21 calves, and Derr says the herd is no longer in immediate danger.

Russ Miller oversees Turner’s 55,000 bison and he says his boss is happy to have been able to help save the iconic animals.