Visitors to Yellowstone National Park recently witnessed a rare sight: a white buffalo calf. The calf, born with a white hide, also has a black nose, eyes, and hooves. (It is not an albino, which would feature pink eyes.) The rare calf fulfills a long-held Lakota prophecy.
Many tribes revere the white buffalo. They relate long-held beliefs that the uncommon coloring makes such animals sacred.
Several members of the Buffalo Field Campaign (a group dedicated to protecting the buffalo and its habitat) said they’ve never heard of a white buffalo being born in Yellowstone. After viewing photographs taken by a park visitor, the BFC confirmed the white buffalo’s presence in the park.
There is no record of a white bison calf previously born in Yellowstone. Park officials have not confirmed the white buffalo calf because they have not personally witnessed the rare animal—only viewed photographs of the calf.
A special ceremony is planned for June 26 to celebrate the birth. The event will be held at the Buffalo Field Campaign quarters, located in West Yellowstone.
The white buffalo calf is perhaps an additional reason for RVers to make this the year to visit Yellowstone.
The Lakota prophecy
About 2,000 years ago, the Lakota people were facing starvation. Bison (buffalo) were all but disappearing and food was scarce.
One day the White Buffalo Calf Woman appeared to a Lakota brave. In her arms, the woman carried a bundle. Upon opening the bundle, a bowl pipe was revealed. The woman presented the pipe to the brave.
Then, the White Buffalo Calf Woman advised the brave to use the pipe to draw buffalo into the area for food. The woman also taught the Lakota people how to pray.
Before leaving, the White Buffalo Calf Woman predicted, “Some day when the times are hard again, I shall return and stand upon the earth as a white buffalo calf, black nose, black eyes, black hooves.” As White Buffalo Calf Woman began to leave, she turned into a white bison calf.
Chief Arvol Looking Horse is the spiritual leader of the Lakota, Nakota Oyate, and Dakota peoples. He commented, “The birth of this calf is both a blessing and warning. We must do more.” Members of the American Indian tribe echoed Looking Horse’s sentiments. They urge that more must be done to protect the earth and its animals.
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This is just fantastic,
I’ve got nothin to add, fantastic it is.
Bison is my favorite animal. Mom was raised in South Dakota, and I have been back many times. As A kid I thot they were huge and magnificent and as an adult, they are still huge and magnificent. I view their survival as showing that there is a possibility for us to survive. I believe in the WHITE ONE.
I second your thoughts !!
Holy cow, er bison. Contact Rusty and Rin Tin Tin!
Not Timmy and Lassie, Tommy? 😉 Have a great weekend and safe travels! 🙂
I named Rusty and Rin Tin Tin because in one of the episodes ‘they’ saw the White Buffalo and even had a song about it.
Thanks, Tommy! I did not know that. Safe travels! 🙂
Wait a minute. I’ve always heard settlers moving west wiped out the bison that were plentiful and brought them nearly to extinction. There was a shortage a couple thousand years before the settlers arrived?
Thank you, Gail! 🙂 Cool.story! I bet the ceremony will be really something to see! Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
This is great news. Now I know the hordes of tourists will be in my backyard but we never go to the Park during tourist season. I’m not sure the article mentioned where the white bison was born so here you go… the Lamar Valley
Sorry, Buffalo and Bison are Not the same thing, Look it up .