National parks are good places to get closer to nature and wildlife. They are more than just protected land and water areas; they also play a vital role in conserving biodiversity. They are also used in educating and inspiring the public about the importance of maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.
While wildlife encounters are allowed, human interference in the surroundings must be appropriately managed. Otherwise, the natural organization and survival of wildlife might be affected.
An Act of Kindness Gone Wrong
In Yellowstone National Park, a bison calf was avoided by its herd after being picked up by a man. This prompts the park authorities to kill the animal to prevent it from being hazardous to visitors. In an official statement from the authorities, they defended that they chose to kill the newborn bison because national parks preserve the natural processes.
The park officials have limited options to deal with the animal, in which case a bison must be quarantined before sending them to conservation herds outside the park. An abandoned bison calf unable to take care of itself cannot be quarantined.
According to CBS News, the baby bison got disconnected from its mother when their herd traversed the Lamar River in the northeastern part of Yellowstone National Park. In a news release, the park officials described that while struggling to cross, the calf was pushed by an unidentified man up from the river and onto a roadway. The park rangers tried to reunite the bison calf with its herd but failed.
While on the roadway, the calf walked and followed cars and people, threatening visitors. While the animal was creating a hazard, a park ranger decided to kill it.
This is the latest case of Yellowstone tourists facing danger upon approaching a bison. In a similar tragedy in 2016, a newborn bison was euthanized by officials when a man and his son placed the animal in their SUV in an attempt to rescue it. The man pleaded guilty and was found to pay $235 with an additional $500 payment to the Yellowstone Park Foundation Wildlife Protection Fund.
In recent years, stories of tragedies have been reported in Yellowstone involving contact between humans and bison. In some cases, animals shun their offspring when they encounter human interference, while some prefer to gore humans.
The large animals in Yellowstone, such as bison, are deceptively harmful even when seen grazing or resting. Because of this, visitors are reminded to keep at least 23 meters away from the wild animals.
Social Behavior of Bison Herd
The level of social organization in bison is still unknown. Some experts believe that bison thrive in extended families, while others support the theory that social interactions among these animals occur randomly.
A study conducted in Armendaris Ranch found that the strongest social connection in bison is among mothers and their offspring. Further investigation reveals that this close association extends across multiple generations. More mother-female offspring relationship was observed than mother-male offspring relationship. This research supports the idea that bison thrive in large families consisting of mothers and their daughters and young male members.
Older males' role is to influence the initiation and direction of group mobility across terrains. Disrupting the social dynamics of the herd could increase the stress level in young male bison.
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