A wild bison knocked a tourist to the ground and repeatedly prevented him from standing in Poland's Białowieża Forest last Monday. The incident, captured on video, shows the large animal charging at the man who was approximately 20 feet away.
The video shows the bison standing over the fallen tourist. When the man attempted to get up, the bison swiped at him, knocking him down again. Nature photographer Grzegorz Ryński, who recorded the encounter, intervened by slowly driving his car towards the bison to create a separation. Ryński called out to the tourist to stay still while he maneuvered his vehicle to allow the man to get inside.
According to Ryński's wife, Aneta, the tourist sustained a deep gash on his calf and was severely bruised, requiring hospitalization. Ryński stated that the man was fortunate, as this particular bison was relatively calm and that other individuals can be more aggressive. He also emphasized that bison are wild animals and may feel threatened if approached too closely.
The Białowieża Forest, situated on the border of Poland and Belarus, is home to approximately 1,176 free-ranging European bison. This incident echoes a similar event in July at Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, where a bison tossed a tourist several feet into the air. Visitors to such areas are advised to maintain a safe distance from these powerful animals, which can weigh up to 2,000 pounds, to avoid potential attacks.