Transcriber's Note
Cover created by Transcriber, using a photograph from the originalbook, and placed in the Public Domain.
A TRIP TO PILAWIN
A
TRIP TO PILAWIN
THE DEER-PARK OF
COUNT JOSEPH POTOCKI IN VOLHYNIA
RUSSIA
BY
R. LYDEKKER
LONDON
ROWLAND WARD, Limited
“THE JUNGLE,” 167 PICCADILLY, W.
1908
All rights reserved
When founding the Pilawin preserve in 1901my intention was limited to the breeding of elk,which still have their native haunts not veryfar away to the north, but have for many yearsceased to inhabit these forests. No one, to myknowledge, has hitherto attempted to naturalisethese splendid deer in enclosed parks; but thefact that Pilawin forms a part of their originalhabitat induced me to try the experiment, whichhas thus far proved an unqualified success.The first big game introduced in Pilawin werethus elk; but soon after their introduction Ihad the opportunity when in England ofviiivisiting the famous park of the Duke of Bedfordat Woburn, and the wonders there seenenlarged my ideas with regard to Pilawin.Without any thought of rivalling the marvelsof Woburn, I accordingly decided to add tothe Pilawin park such of the deer of NorthAmerica and Asia as appeared likely to thrivein Russia. Consequently I lost no time inobtaining specimens of American and Siberianwapiti, as well as of Caucasian red deer andthe Manchurian Dybowski’s deer, after whichI continued to add other new inhabitants tothe park as opportunity occurred. In 1905,thanks to the kind intervention of Prince VictorKotchoubey, who is at the head of the Imperialestates, I received from H.M. the Emperor ofRussia the valuable gift of three bison fromthe Imperial preserves of Bielowicz; while inthe following year a pair of their Americanixrelations, imported by Hagenbeck, was addedto the herd.
Much work still remains to be done beforePilawin is placed on such a level that willmake it of real interest and importance to thestudy of natural history. If possible, I shouldlike to make it the home of all such species ofbig game to which the climate and other localconditions prove suitable. And when established,I want them to live practically in theirwild and natural state, breeding freely, andlacking any sense of confinement and limitation.I want, in fact, to see Pilawin, not a zoologicalgarden, but a wild forest, where the noblestkinds of game may enjoy the largest possibleamount of freedom, and where the sportsmanmay find the enjoyment of real sport and thenaturalist a great field for study.
Before concluding, I may avail myself ofxthe opportunity of tendering my best thanksto all who have so kindly assisted me in theenterprise. My first thanks are due to H.M.the Emperor; and I have next to thank theDuke of Bedford for the promise of a youngAmerican bison, which I hope