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Conference kaosws::canada

Title:True North Strong & Free
Notice:Introduction in Note 535, For Sale/Wanted in 524
Moderator:POLAR::RICHARDSON
Created:Fri Jun 19 1987
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1040
Total number of notes:13668

346.0. "Where The Buffalo Roam !!!!" by CRATE::ROWELL (Searching for an angel in white) Fri Aug 31 1990 08:44

      I heard on our Radio News, here in the U.K., that the largest herd of
    Buffalo in North America, some 4000 of the Beasts, are to be hunted and
    slaughtered, because of a disease problem. The herd was reported to be
    in Western Canada.
    
      Can anyone fill in missing details ?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Wayne
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346.1Yup, and the is no antelope actually called an antelope.POLAR::RICHARDSONHelp save the Nolton Nash Pine!Fri Aug 31 1990 13:279
    	I believe the herd is in northern Alberta close to the territories.
    I forget the name of the disease but it had to do with transplanting
    buffalo from the south into the northern herd which gave the whole
    northern herd this disease.

    	Maybe they'll round them all up in Head-Bashed-In Buffalo Jump and
    do it the old fashioned way.

    Glenn
346.2TB is the concernTROA01::MSCHNEIDERvi.... the editor from hell!Fri Aug 31 1990 13:359
    I believe the disease is tuberculosis (sp?).  The fear is that the
    disease could be transferred to cattle and eliminate the TB free
    status Canada's beef cattle enjoy.  Agriculture Canada's contention
    is that the only way to eliminate this threat is to destroy the
    entire herd.
    
    I seem to remember a similar issue in the U.S. a short while ago.
    
    Martin
346.3Can they Recover ?CRATE::ROWELLSearching for an angel in whiteFri Aug 31 1990 14:149
    Just from the scetchy report that I heard, it sounded seriouse. Will
    this slaughter affect the numbers THAT drastcally, or are there enough
    numbers to recouperate once again ?
    
    I remember seeing some of these beasts, whe I lived in Manitoba, and
    remeber how awed I was by them. It would be sad to see them disappear
    for good.
    
    Wayne
346.4TRCO01::FINNEYKeep cool, but do not freezeFri Aug 31 1990 20:5429
    The number of Buffalo affected, according to the Alberta Gov't is
    some 30% of the herd. According to the people in the area, it is
    between 3 and 4 % of the herd. The promises of rebuilding the herd
    (from 0) are not being bought by the natives of the area. They claim
    the purpose of eliminating the herd is to provide an opportunity
    to expand the cattle grazing territory northwards into the protected
    buffalo areas.             
    
    Between the buffs and the "endangered" cattle is hilly, swampy and
    forested terrain with many river crossings that the buffalo have
    _never_ entered, since they had no need to.
    
    This is not the first time that the Alta gov't has announced intentions
    to reduce that herd. some years ago (10 ?) it was announced that
    the herd would be culled due to overpopulation, even though it was
    at that time only up to 60% of the target supportable population
    in the protected area. That idea was shot down in flames by various
    wildlife management groups, and some audacious soul who revealed
    that cattle farmers in the area were told to prepare bids for some
    new acreage that would be made available.
    
    Who wants to lay odds on where that acreage was ? Any bets on how
    quickly cattle herds will move into the currently protected lands
    ?
    
    BTW - Native indians had been "granted" control & usage rights over
    the herd territory. Isn't that special ?
    
    Scooter
346.5VAOU02::HALLIDAYProfessional bad influenceFri Aug 31 1990 23:308
    The disease is called brucellosis, and its contagious between cows and
    buffalo. The solution is the same for cows that get it: kill them (the
    meat is inedible).
    
    I don't know why they always do this. There may be problems with
    vaccines.
    
    ...laura
346.6Clarify the locationCGOO01::LMILLERhasten slowlyTue Sep 04 1990 15:368
    There are 2 diseases: both TB and Brucellosis (sp) are in the herd.
    The place is Wood Buffalo National park, I believe, it straddles
    Alberta and NWT.  
    
    BTW: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is in the far SE of Alberta, so
    it would be a long chase!
    
    
346.7Northern herd is free of diseaseKAOA01::LAPLANTEWed Sep 05 1990 12:209
    
    One of the main reasons they want to eliminate the southern herd
    is that the buffalo are starting to infringe on the range of a northern
    herd which is completely free of the disease.
    
    The intent, according to the pols, is to restock with buffalo from
    the other herd.
    
    Roger