When founding the Pilawin preserve in 1901 my intention was limited
to the breeding of elk, which still have their native haunts not very
far away to the north, but have for many years ceased to inhabit these
forests. No one, to my knowledge, has hitherto attempted to naturalise
these splendid deer in enclosed parks; but the fact that Pilawin forms
a part of their original habitat induced me to try the experiment,
which has thus far proved an unqualified success. The first big game
introduced in Pilawin were thus elk; but soon after their introduction
I had the opportunity when in England of visiting the famous park of
the Duke of Bedford at Woburn, and the wonders there seen enlarged
my ideas with regard to Pilawin. Without any thought of rivalling
the marvels of Woburn, I accordingly decided to add to the Pilawin
park such of the deer of North America and Asia as appeared likely to
thrive in Russia. Consequently I lost no time in obtaining specimens
of American and Siberian wapiti, as well as of Caucasian red deer and
the Manchurian Dybowski’s deer, after which I continued to add other
new inhabitants to the park as opportunity occurred. In 1905, thanks to
the kind intervention of Prince Victor Kotchoubey, who is at the head
of the Imperial estates, I received from H.M. the Emperor of Russia the
valuable gift of three bison from the Imperial preserves of Bielowicz;
while in the following year a pair of their American relations,
imported by Hagenbeck, was added to the herd.
Much work still remains to be done before Pilawin is placed on such a
level that will make it of real interest and importance to the study
of natural history. If possible, I should like to make it the home
of all such species of big game to which the climate and other local
conditions prove suitable. And when established, I want them to live
practically in their wild and natural state, breeding freely, and
lacking any sense of confinement and limitation. I want, in fact, to
see Pilawin, not a zoological garden, but a wild forest, where the
noblest kinds of game may enjoy the largest possible amount of freedom,
and where the sportsman may find the enjoyment of real sport and the
naturalist a great field for study.
Before concluding, I may avail myself of the opportunity of tendering
my best thanks to all who have so kindly assisted me in the enterprise.
My first thanks are due to H.M. the Emperor; and I have next to thank
the Duke of Bedford for the promise of a young American bison, which
I hope will reach Pilawin during the spring. To the Princes A. S.
and F. Radziwill, to Count Constantin Potocki, and to Mr. Zalenski I
am indebted for elk. To Mr. Poklewski-Roziell my acknowledgments are
due for Siberian roe; while I have to thank Madame Ouwaroff for the
valuable gift of a couple of beavers. I have likewise the pleasure
of acknowledging the valuable services of the firm of Hagenbeck of
Hamburg, who carried out to my entire satisfaction all orders regarding
the importation of living animals into Pilawin.
To the author of this little volume I desire to express my deepest
gratitude and warmest thanks; and I am both proud and pleased that
the first description of Pilawin should come from the pen of such a
well-known naturalist as Mr. Lydekker.
Last, but not least, my gratitude is due to the publisher for the
manner in which this account of Pilawin is presented to the world.