Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum
North America
Bison
Bison bison
Animal Class:
Mammals
Diet:
Herbivore
Status in the Wild:
Vulnerable
Bison vs. Buffalo
Bison are only distantly related to true buffalo, such as those found in Africa and Asia. Bison have a large, humped back; true buffalo do not.
“Tatanka”
To the Lakota, the bison was called “tatanka,” meaning “bull.” During the 15th century, bison dominated the American plains with numbers over 60 million. The Plains Indians depended on the animal for survival and used every part of the bison.
