Czy żubr może pokochać krowę? (Polish)

Can a Bison Love a Cow? (English)

The article describes interactions between bison and domestic cows, which – despite belonging to two different genera – can interbreed both naturally and forced by man. The natural inclinations of these animals have often been treated as a threat to the species purity of one of the symbols of Poland: the bison. On the other hand, controlled crossbreeding brought tangible benefits. Hybridization was accompanied by heterosis, thanks to which the new individual had a much higher weight than its parents, was stronger, more resistant, and more resilient. These advantages led to attempts – as early as in the mid-nineteenth century – to bring to life a creature called “żubroń,” a name coined by readers of the periodical Przekrój in a contest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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