Wood bison were sent from Elk Island National Park near Edmonton, which is the only fully-enclosed national park.
The Wood bison herd at Elk Island was established in 1965 when 22 wood bison were transferred from Wood Buffalo National Park to start a tuberculosis and brucellosis-free conservation herd free of other introduced cattle genes.
This Alberta park, which is divided into two separate areas by the Yellowhead Highway, also has plains bison. Plains bison – initiated in the park with the herd purchased from Montana – are concentrated in the northern area which is also fenced.
Parks Canada relocated bison to Alaska under an agreement with the State of Alaska’s Department of Fish and Game to help with the conservation efforts to increase the population of wild wood bison in the state.
According to KTOO, Parks Canada charged Alaska $16,000 for care and handling of the bison.
The last frontier state will receive more bison in 2024, 2026 and 2028 from Canada.
Parks Canada first sent wood bison to Alaska in 2008. A herd of 53 bison was translocated at the time which later founded the lower Yukon-Innoko herd located near the village of Shageluk.
More than 3000 bison from Elk Island National Park were translocated to conservation projects all across North America and Russia.
Wood bison is North America’s largest land animal.
