The Missing Bison
About this episode
The episode explores the journey to find the missing taxidermied bison from the Smithsonian and their impact on conservation efforts.
In the 1880s, a conservator at the Smithsonian set out for Montana to capture an American bison before the dwindling species vanished forever. He returned with six taxidermied bison that he displayed in the museum. The bison diorama wowed visitors so much that it helped kickstart a movement to save the species. But then, just like that, the stuffed bison vanished! Where did they go? With the nation's 250th birthday fast approaching, the director of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History set out to find the missing bison. It's a journey that led west —where it all began— and ended on the steps of the museum. Guests: Kirk Johnson , Director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History Siobhan Starrs, Senior Project Manager and Exhibition Developer at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History Jonny BearCub Stiffarm, Volunteer with the Fort Peck Tribal Bison program in Montana. Member of the Assiniboine Nation and a former Buffalo Program administrator at the World Wildlife Fund Jim Wood, Assistant Director for Communications at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History This episode received support from Smithsonian's Our Shared Future…
Sponsors
Lilly Endowment Inc., Target, Caterpillar Foundation, Gates Foundation
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