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The BIG Goal

Ensure the existence of healthy bison, as they were for generations past, for generations to come.

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Bison Integrated Genomics (The BIG Project)

is an initiative funded through Genome Canada

with collaboration lead through the University of Saskatchewan

and Parks Canada

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This generational project aims to assist in long-term bison conservation efforts.

Using new technologies for disease testing, disease-management,

genetic diversity, and long-term vision to connect isolated herds,

this groundbreaking project partners with Indigenous communities

to center the work in local contexts with local processes.

 

Activities of BIG

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1

Improved Disease Testing 

​Diagnosing tuberculosis and brucellosis in wild herds has low accuracy, was challenging to capture animals multiple times, and created stress on the bison. The new test would give an immediate result while in the field doing routine checks, like an at-home Covid tests! 

2

Vaccine Development

Currently no vaccine is available to wild bison to address both

bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis.

​The BIG Project is creating an edible tasty bait pellet item that can carry the vaccine and be placed in the wild.

This allows animals to roam freely and avoids a hands-on vaccine approach. 

3

Mapping Genetic Trees  

Past decisions of conservation efforts, like moving plains bison into traditional territories of wood bison, and the impacts of human development that created isolated herds has posed further challenges for bison.

The BIG Project looks to answer questions like “how much genetic diversity is there for a given herd?"

and "which herds are more at risk for potential inbreeding?” 

4

Bison Genome Biobank  

The BIG Project is working with communities to create the world's first Bison Genome Biobank.

By reserving sperm and embryos of wild bison, the biobank acts as an insurance policy in case of natural disasters, potential human related challenges, or any unforeseen circumstance that may impact bison populations.

As well, since animals from distant herds are unable to mingle and mate as times before, the biobank could introduce more genetic diversity without risk of moving animals and disease transmission.    

Benefits of the BIG Project
for today's herds and beyond

  • Offer modern disease management tools to support bison conservation for wood bison

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  • Improve Indigenous food security in northern Canada and support cultural connections through greater access to harvest healthy, genetically distinct wood bison without fear of human transmission of zoonotic diseases

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  • Reduction of threats of disease-spread to non-diseased bison and cattle

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  • A vaccine that could be delivered orally to wild bison with little to no human interaction

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  • A vaccine to assist in conservation of and establishment of populations of healthy wood bison by reducing a long-standing disease threat to bison recovery

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  • The genomic-enabled tool developed will allow targeted distribution of genetically profiled germplasm (genes) for continental-scale conservation of bison in North America

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  • This will also allow Parks Canada and other bison conservation agencies material to reduce the impacts of the loss of genetic diversity in small, valuable bison conservation herds such as Elk Island, Prince Albert and Grassland National Parks.

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  • Collection, disinfection and storage of sperm and embryos from targeted herds will result the creation of the world's first Bison Genome Biobank!

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