The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center transported three bison calves, two bulls and one female to Umnak Island. The animals were shipped out Jan. 4 from Anchorage International Airport where they were loaded onto to a plane for a 12-hour, 1,000-mile journey to a land so distant it is in a different time zone. Bustamante the bull, and Stampede, the female, exited their crates with ease to explore their new island habitat. Nickel, the other bull, was reluctant to leave the security of his crate and needed some encouragement. The whole village (29) people were excited to be in company of these magnificent animals.
For the next couple of years, these bison will be joined by additional AWCC bison calves. In April of 2010 Stampede is expected to have a calf of her own.
The island is located at the end of the Aleutian Islands, and the bison will have hundreds of square miles to roam. The calves will be accompanied by 5 more AWCC plains bison calves in the fall of 2008. The plan is for them to grow to a sizable herd of free roaming bison that will roam the 600,000 square mile island for centuries to come.
The island maritime climate is damp and drizzly, and the calves are expected to adapt well to their new habitat.
The project is a join effort between the Aleutian Pribilof Island Community Development Corporation, AWCC and Chaluka Corp, a village corporation for the town of Nikolski on Umnak Island. Visitors to Umnak Island can stay at the Ugludax Lodge to watch the bison herd grow and prosper for eternity.