Opening of “Bison: From Near Extinction to Renewal & Recovery” at Zarrow

Tatanka, bison, buffalo, ptéĥčcaka (Lakota), sisilia (Lenape) the Monarch of the Plains – bison are known by many names in different languages. Relationships between humans and bison can be traced back for at least 30,000 years, as evidenced by images painted on the walls of caves such as Chauvet, Trois Freres and others in Europe.

This exhibit’s focus on the bison provides a lens through which to explore changes in the natural environment and human cultures from the Ice Age to the 21^st century in North America. While bison are certainly worthy of study on their own, it is their long-intertwined history with humans that sets them apart from virtually all other wild animals. The story of the buffalo is the story of environmental change and adaptation in North America. It also is the human story of subsistence, exploration, greed, ingenuity, survival and responsibility for another species.