Biologists have estimated that there were around 30 million plains bison and

168,000 wood bison prior to the 20th century. However, by the turn of the century, both plains and wood bison populations were reduced by over 99% to near extinction levels.

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By 1896, wood bison population levels dropped to approximately less than 250 bison.

Plains bison during this period also had a dramatic drop in population and also had cattle related diseases introduced into their herds due to farming in their traditional territories.  

With this drop in both wood and plains bison, the government of Canada shipped 6000 Plains Bison in the 1920's from Wainwright, Alberta, north to Wood Buffalo National Park. This transfer led to the introduction of those cattle diseases from this herd and mixing of these plains bison into the existing small wood bison population.

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In the late 1950's, a small herd of isolated wood bison were rediscovered in Wood Buffalo National Park. 16 of these bison were shipped north to establish the Mackenzie herd and 23 were shipped south to establish the Elk Island National Park herd.

This move was an effort to save the 'genetically pure' wood bison.

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However, it was later discovered that this isolated herd at some point in time did mix with the introduced diseased plains bison.

Luckily the Mackenzie herd remained uninfected; sadly, the adults of the Elk Island herd

were found to be diseased and were culled,

while 11 disease-free calves were salvaged and hand-reared.

 

 

The 11 disease-free calves were used as the founding herd

for 5 of the 9 wild wood bison herds in existence today.

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The introduction of diseases (Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis), the increase of human populations into bison areas, urbanization of natural migration corridors, and

the economic shift in worldviews of bison being utilized as a commodity

have led to a crisis for both plains and wood bison, with on-going repercussions felt today.

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The BIG Project recognizes the decisions of the past

have left wood bison with two major challenges:

disease and isolation.

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In 2020, the recovery of wood bison in Canada has been designated an imminent threat through the Species At Risk Act, if action is not taken now.

Today, there are around 6000 wood bison in 10 wild herds that are disease-free,

and another 3000 in diseased herds in and around Wood Buffalo National Park.

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Without the ability to naturally mingle and reproduce, wood bison are

at a critical time in history to ensure genetic diversity and population growth

in these isolated herds.​​