In honor of its 125th anniversary, the Smithsonian’s National Zoo is once again home to American bison, the animal that began the Zoo’s living collection in 1889 and sparked the conservation movement. Before 1800, American bison once roamed the Great Plains in vast numbers: estimates range from 30 to 100 million. Bison were once a major source of meat and hides in the United States. They formed the basis of the economy for a number of American Indian nations. However, by the 1890s, fewer than 1,000 of these animals remained on the continent. The U.S. Government slaughtered many bison in an effort to destroy the livelihood of Plains Indians. In recent years, many American Indian nations that traditionally depended on bison have been engaged in efforts to bring back the “Buffalo Nation,” reestablish healthy bison populations on tribal lands, and reclaim an important part of their people’s traditional diet and way of life. Learn more at www.americanbison.si.edu or visit www.nmai.si.edu.
