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A history of slaughter
Huge herds of migrating bison were an amazing sight
In 1871, one herd covering 3,200 km2 (1,250 square miles) was seen crossing the Arkansas River. That’s more than twice the size of London! But people soon put paid to this magnificent spectacle by killing bison.
Between 1870 and 1875 alone, more than 12.5 million bison were shot, and by 1889 only about 1,000 were left. Today, thanks to conservation, there are about 500,000 – all within national parks.
A similar slaughter took place in South Africa during the 19th century, where herds of migrating springbok were far bigger than anything seen in Africa today. In 1896, one herd, measuring 125 km (77 miles) in length, took two weeks to pass by. These huge herds did such damage to crops that the government instructed farmers to shoot springbok on sight. Today this graceful antelope is only common on nature reserves.
Last modified: 11 January 2005