PRESS RELEASE: September 9, 2014
Contact: Susan Andrews, SJSU student, Andrews.susan@yahoo.com
By the end of the 19th Century what was once a population of 50 million wild buffaloes
migrating the Great Plains had been reduced to 23. Finding safety in what is now Yellowstone
Park this small herd survived and ensured the survival of the species. The herd of now 3000 is
the only herd that is of continuous wild ancestry, comprising America's only free-roaming and
unfenced population.
The problem is the Buffalo of the greater Yellowstone ecosystem are not protected in their yearround habitat. Yellowstone does not provide sufficient winter range for the resident herds of
wildlife. The winter conditions are too harsh and the herds instinctually migrate to lower
elevations crossing into a conflict zone where Montana politics clash with their survival
needs. During the winter of 2013/2014 653 Buffalo were slaughtered. Over the last decade 4543
buffalo have been killed.
To the Native Americans the buffalo represent the essence of their social, cultural and spiritual
identity, a relationship tens of thousands of years old. Yet tribes have not been invited to discuss
policy with ranchers, land managers and politicians to decide the fate of the Buffalo.
The Buffalo Field Campaign's mission is to stop the slaughter of these magnificent
animals. They advocate protecting the natural habitat of free-roaming buffalo and native wildlife
and working with people of all nations to honor the sacredness of the wild buffalo.
The Buffalo Field Campaign works in the field, through volunteerism, to stop the slaughter and
harassment of Yellowstone's wild buffalo. Through daily patrols from cars, skis and snow
shoes, from sunrise to sunset, volunteers protect buffalo outside the park. The local community
demonstrates incredible support by posting "Buffalo Free Zones" and providing warm beverages
to support patrols. Over 3000 people from all over the world have joined to stop the slaughter of
buffalo.