For the purpose of nature management and species conservation, European bison (Bison bonasus) are being increasingly reintroduced into nature reserves across Europe. The aim of this study was to investigate European bison’s adaptability to new areas through the study of their parasite-EPG (eggs per gram feces) and dietary diversity during twelve months after translocation. We compared the parasite-EPG from introduced European bison in Lille Vildmose, Denmark, with the parasite-EPG from populations from Bornholm, Denmark, and Białowieża Forest, Poland. From March 2021 to February 2022, fecal samples were collected from three populations. Samples from Lille Vildmose were examined through flotation, sedimentation, the Baermann technique, and nanopore sequencing. Fecal samples from Bornholm and Białowieża were examined through flotation and sedimentation. Nanopore sequencing of DNA from 63 European bison’s fecal samples collected during March–September in Lille Vildmose identified 8 species of nematodes within the digestive tract of the European bison, with Haemonchus contortus being the most frequently observed. In Lille Vildmose, a significantly higher excretion of nematode-EPG was observed during the summer period than in the spring, autumn, and winter. In addition, monthly differences in the excretion of nematode eggs were found, with this being significantly higher in June than in the months during autumn and winter (October–February). Significant differences in the nematode-EPG were only found between the excretion of nematode eggs in Białowieża Forest when compared to that of Lille Vildmose, with significantly higher excretion in Lille Vildmose (October–November). The results indicate that the development rates for nematodes may be affected by changes in temperature, with increasing temperatures speeding up their development time. Independent of this study design, wildlife vets together with the gamekeepers managing the herd found it necessary to treat the herd with antiparasitics for practical and animal welfare reasons in relation to translocation. Furthermore, 79 plant taxa were identified in the diet of the European bison. The broadest diet was observed in March suggesting that the European bison quickly adapted to their new habitat. The results suggest a seasonal shift in their diet, with this being most apparent from March to April.

Elephants’ nocturnal behaviours are an important part of their welfare in captivity. For this reason, this study investigates whether the nocturnal behaviour of three African elephants’ (Loxodonta africana) in Aalborg Zoo is affected when exposed to different conditions and if they are affected differently.  Camera footage was used to log the elephants’ behaviours at night during a control period and during two periods with different impacts, which consisted of six nights respectively. Every night, the elephants were captured on video from 8 pm to 8 am and the behaviours were subsequently logged every second following an ethogram containing seven behaviours. This study was not able to show an effect (p > 0.05) on the elephants’ nocturnal behaviour related to an increase in visitor activity during the Autumn holiday. However, a significant increase in the duration of the sway behaviour was found after the shift from daylight saving time to standard time. This study also found that the elephants show individual norms within the behaviours such as interaction with food and abnormal behaviours. The lack of statistical evidence for changes in nocturnal behaviour related to visitor activity, may be due to other external factors influencing the nocturnal behaviour of the elephants. Swaying behaviour was affected by the shift to standard time of all three elephants. Individual differences in nocturnal behaviours indicate that the three elephants have different animal personalities.