The European bison is the continent's largest herbivore; it is less stocky and has a smaller head than the American bison. This large bovid, a close relative of the legendary prehistoric bison depicted in cave paintings discovered at various sites in Spain, was hunted for centuries throughout all of Europe and disappeared from a number of countries in historical times. The last remaining wild populations in eastern Europe were practically exterminated during World War I.

Fortunately, the few bison surviving in captivity were used to re-establish herds in nature reserves in the former Soviet Union and Poland, and the species is no longer on the verge of extinction.

Unlike the American bison, it is mainly a sedentary animal and does not undertake large-scale migrations. Nor is it normally found in open areas like prairies or steppes, but instead inhabits woodlands, only venturing into nearby clearings to graze.