Over 70 new bison are integrating into the existing buffalo herd at the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.
The bison were living at conservation lands at The Wilds, a nonprofit conservation center in Ohio.
Officials with The Wilds said the bison were brought South Dakota to return them to native land on the plains.
Jayme Murray is the CEO of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Buffalo Authority Corporation. He said the existing herd benefits from the movement.
"As far as the benefit for the tribe, it’s all really about creating a sustainable healthy herd for us. You know, anytime we’re able to bring in animals from the outside that can diversify the genetics that we have in our pool, it’s definitely beneficial to the health of our herd,” Murray said.
He also said it helps the tribe.
“These opportunities are very beneficial for us as a tribe and as some of the leading conservators of buffalo in the nation to be able to have access to these animals,” Murray said.
The project was done in collaboration with The Wilds, the Wildlife Restoration Foundation and the InterTribal Buffalo Council.
