Zubriel the Bison becomes Israel’s new ‘diplomat’ in Poland

The Israeli Embassy in Poland has adopted a bison at the Warsaw Zoo for one year in a symbolic diplomatic gesture. The embassy named the animal 'Zubriel,' a portmanteau combining the Polish word 'żubr' (bison) with a Hebrew suffix common in names like Tzuriel. According to embassy officials, the initiative covers the animal's care and upkeep costs while serving as a tribute to Jan Żabiński, the legendary director of the Warsaw Zoo who saved many Jews during the Holocaust. Israeli Ambassador to Poland Yaakov Finkelstein described the gesture as a sign of friendship toward the city of Warsaw and an acknowledgment of the zoo's historical significance. In recognition of the sponsorship, a plaque noting the Israeli Embassy's contribution has been placed near the bison's enclosure.