Wisent

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/wisent

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How many people live in Wisent?Approximately 7,000 individuals in the wild, with a growing trend
2. What is the scientific name?Bison bonasus
3. What is the habitat?Temperate forests, woodlands, and meadows, primarily in Eastern Europe
4. Where do wisents live now?Today wisents live mainly in Eastern Europe. They can be found in Poland’s Białowieża Forest, Belarus, Russia, and also in places like Germany and Lithuania.
5. Why are wisents important for the forest?Wisents help keep forests healthy by grazing on grasses and trees. Their dung adds nutrients to the soil, and their presence supports many other animals.

Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its natural environment relative to its abundance.
Herbivore: An animal that feeds on plants.
Genetic Diversity: The total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species.
Habitat Fragmentation: The process by which a large, continuous habitat is broken into smaller, isolated patches.