The American bison is not a buffalo, but it is a survivor of near-extinction.

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Often mislabeled as buffalo, the American bison is a distinct bovine more closely related to yaks. Once numbering in the tens of millions, this iconic animal was hunted to the brink of collapse in the 19th century. Today, it remains a symbol of both ecological recovery and complex genetic heritage.

The American bison, or B. bison, is a massive ungulate that once roamed vast swathes of North America. Though colloquially called a buffalo, it shares no close ancestry with the true buffalo of Africa or Asia. Instead, modern genetic analysis places the bison within the genus Bos, identifying the yak as its closest living relative. Physically, these animals are built for endurance and power, with adults reaching up to 2 metres in height and weighing over 1,200 kilograms. Their anatomy, including a lower-hanging head compared to their European cousins, reflects a preference for grazing over browsing.

The 19th century marked a catastrophic nadir for the species. Driven by colonial expansion and a deliberate government strategy to undermine the power of Indigenous plains peoples, an estimated 50 million bison were slaughtered. By 1889, the population had plummeted to just 1,091 individuals. This bottleneck forced a desperate effort by ranchers to save the species, often through crossbreeding with domestic cattle to create 'beefalo'. These efforts left a lasting mark; today, only about 5% of the American bison population is considered genetically pure, with the remainder carrying traces of cattle DNA.

Recovery has been a slow, contentious process. While the American Plains bison is no longer officially endangered, its survival relies on active conservation and fragmented herds on public lands, such as Yellowstone National Park. The species remains a focal point of debate, balancing the interests of Native American tribes, private landowners, and commercial ranchers. Despite the challenges of disease, such as brucellosis, and the ongoing struggle to maintain genetic integrity, the bison remains a vital, if complicated, fixture of the North American landscape.

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