Once upon a time, in the boundless grasslands of North America, there roamed creatures of great strength and majesty—the American bison. These animals were a key part of life for many Native American tribes, providing food, clothing and tools. Their population dwindled perilously low in the late 1800s, falling from as many as 60 million to fewer than 1,000 due to excessive hunting and disease. Enter a group of conservationists, ranchers and Native Americans who stepped in to save the species. Now, over 500,000 bison roam again, many in protected areas like Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States, featured in today"s image. From the buffalo nickel to state flags, they are a deeply embedded symbol in American culture. Bison are North America"s largest mammals, and they have been introduced as far away as Russia. While the bison has made a heroic recovery, the story isn"t over. These animals still face challenges, including habitat loss and hunting.
American bison
Today in History
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Centuries of time in a Delicate Arch
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International Ice and Snow Festival, Harbin, China
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King of the jungle? Nope
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Sibiu Christmas Market, Romania
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Moon Day
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North American beaver, Moran, Wyoming, United States
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Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, Huesca, Spain
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Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
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New Years Eve in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Getting starry-eyed at the moon
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Obereversand Lighthouse, Dorum, Germany
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A cantilevered window to the past
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Mysuru Palace, Mysuru, Karnataka
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Agra Fort, Agra, Uttar Pradesh
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Star Wars Day
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What are these beautiful sandy waves?
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Nazaré, Portugal
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Tank Lakes, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Washington, United States
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Lavender field, Hertfordshire, England
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National Panda Day
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Dragon waterfall, Venezuela
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Wahclella Falls, Oregon, USA
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Mid-Autumn Festival
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Amur leopard cat, Russia
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Emerald Bay and Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, California, United States
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Babbling on and on
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Ambedkar Jayanti
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Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United States
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Vieste, Apulia, Italy
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Strokkur geyser in Iceland
Bing Wallpaper Gallery

