Businessman from Grodno takes patronage over bisons from Belovezhskaya Pushcha
The first official guardian of bisons has appeared in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. It is Grodno businessman Andrey Bertel, owner of the Racer bicycle factory. Last weekend he came to meet his charges — and, it seems, the bisons liked it. At least, they took carrots and apples from his hands without shyness, writes "Tochka".
How it happened
Together with Bertel, 18 cyclists came to the Pushcha — they specially rescheduled their training to see the bisons.
The bisons boldly approached the fence and took vegetables through the holes in the net. Carrots were distributed first, they love them most of all.
The largest in the enclosure is the male Bora. He carefully took the treat, swallowed it whole and immediately asked for more. A small calf born this year also boldly stood near the net and was not afraid of people at all.
"We know that bisons' favorite treats are apples, carrots, cabbage. So we took such a set of vegetables. For the first acquaintance, we even made something like a cake for bisons from heads of fresh cabbage and carrots, but then we realized that this aesthetic was not needed here," says Bertel.
Why the businessman decided to patronize bisons
According to Bertel, the idea was born by chance. The image of a bison on bicycle boxes appeared long before the charity program — not as a logo, but as an image reflecting the essence of the product.
"We have long felt a connection with these animals — they are about strength, reliability, power, endurance. When we launched a series of bicycles dedicated to nature, the idea of a charity program arose," says the businessman.
When a series of bicycles dedicated to nature was launched, the company decided to go further. A part of the funds from the sale of limited edition models is directed to the national park for the purchase of feed for young animals.
As Maksim Prykhadouski, Deputy General Director of the national park, noted, "the 'Strength of Nature' initiative is important not so much for the volume of feed transferred, but for the idea itself. It shows that business can be caring and see nature not as a resource, but as a partner."
What's next
As of 2026, about 800 bisons live in the Belarusian part of Belovezhskaya Pushcha. In winter, when feed becomes scarce, they need supplementary feeding. Special feeding grounds are equipped in each forestry, where herds come with the onset of cold weather.
Last winter was severe, but, according to the rangers, passed without losses. The population is growing — this year, some bisons were transferred to Russia as part of the resettlement program.
The park administration hopes that other companies will follow Bertel's example.
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