The American Bison is the symbol of the great plains. Vast herds migrated from Canada to Mexico. From a population that ranged in the millions, American Bison dwindled to near extinction driven by American settlers.
Fortunately, the bison population has recovered to a total of 9000 due to conservation efforts by Canadian conservationists, but they still need help to survive.
The bison are also threatened by two main diseases. One, Tuberculosis, an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules in the tissues, especially the lungs, and Anthrax, a bacterial disease of sheep and cattle, typically affecting the skin and lungs which cause severe skin ulceration or a form of pneumonia. Both of these have become prominent in bison herds.
Fortunately, the bison population has recovered to a total of 9000 due to conservation efforts by Canadian conservationists, but they still need help to survive.
The bison are also threatened by two main diseases. One, Tuberculosis, an infectious bacterial disease characterized by the growth of nodules in the tissues, especially the lungs, and Anthrax, a bacterial disease of sheep and cattle, typically affecting the skin and lungs which cause severe skin ulceration or a form of pneumonia. Both of these have become prominent in bison herds.
How to Help:
People can help in their preservation by adopting bison on websites such as Defenders of Wildlife or by donating toward the purchase of prairie land on websites like the American Prairie Foundation.
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American Bison
Photographed by Phillip Colla
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I wasn't aware that the buffalo were still considered endangered. Hopefully conservation efforts continue to work as they did to save them from extinction
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that the buffalo were still considered endangered. Hopefully conservation efforts continue to work as they did to save them from extinction
ReplyDeleteThe pictures you use are wonderful, and I love the section you included on "How to Help".
ReplyDelete