Dr. A.L.J. Sunier with wisent calf
In 1987, artist Arie Teeuwisse immortalised ARTIS director Armand Sunier together with a wisent calf – a symbolic tribute to his crucial role as co-initiator of the Wisent herdbook in 1931.
This statue is a symbol of species preservation at ARTIS.
The wisent herdbook was one of the first programmes aimed at preserving an endangered species.
Comeback of the wisent
Artwork in detail
- made in
- 1987
- created by
- Arie Teeuwisse
- made of
- bronze
- size of
- 116 cm (h) x 47 cm (w) x 50 cm (d)
Extinct in the wild
The wisent vanished completely from the wild in the 1920s. There were only 56 specimens left, scattered among a number of zoos. One of these animals was the bull Schaljapin, at ARTIS. Director Sunier regarded him as more than just a rarity; he saw an opportunity to save the species. Zoo directors then started to collaborate with one another and exchange animals in the hope of saving the wisent from extinction.
Back in the wild
Starting in 1952, wisents born in zoos were released into the Białowieża Reserve in Poland. Many of these animals were offspring from the ARTIS programme. Today there are around 3500 wisents living in various European nature reserves. The last wisent of ARTIS descent was released in 2009, and the last wisent at ARTIS died in 2015.
The Rotary Club (Amsterdam East) donated the artwork to ARTIS.