As part of an ongoing Bison Conservation Transfer Program, 116 Yellowstone National Park bison were relocated to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Poplar, Montana, in early February.

According to the Daily Montanana who initially reported on the story, this joint effort between the National Park Service (NPS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) marks a pivotal moment in conservation history, constituting the largest transfer of live Yellowstone bison to American Indian Tribes worldwide.

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Record-Breaking Transfer

The bison moved to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation comprised 108 males, four females, and four calves, diversifying and bolstering the bison population in the region.

This transfer adds to the 414 Yellowstone bison already relocated to the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes at Fort Peck since 2019.

Notably, most of these bison and their offspring have been further dispersed to 26 Tribes across 12 states through collaboration with the InterTribal Buffalo Council.

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Collaborative Conservation Efforts

This achievement is the culmination of concerted efforts from various stakeholders.

Partners including the NPS, Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, APHIS, the State of Montana, InterTribal Buffalo Council, Yellowstone Forever, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Greater Yellowstone Coalition have played crucial roles in facilitating the successful relocation of these iconic animals.

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