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Wild bison roam Canada national park for the first time in nearly a century

Wild bison roam Canada national park for the first time in nearly a century

Bison have returned to a Canada national park after being hunted almost to extinction in the country nearly a century ago.

Sixteen bison were moved to Banff National Park in Alberta last week.

This is the oldest national park in the country.

Officials said on Monday that the move had gone well and the bison were getting used to their new home.

The animals will be kept under observation in an enclosed pasture in the park nestled under the Rockies until the summer of 2018.

Indigenous groups are set to welcome the animals, which are expected to regain their role in the park's ecosystem.

The bison used to be spiritually significant to the indigenous people, who used them for food, clothing and shelter.

 At one time, there were as many as 30 million bison on the plains.

The release is part of a 5-year introduction which will allow officials to determine whether it is feasible to manage a herd in the park in the long term.

Catherine McKenna, federal minister of environment and climate change, told the Calgary Sun: "By returning plains bison to Banff National Park, Parks Canada is taking an important step toward restoring the full diversity of species and natural processes to the park’s ecosystems while providing new opportunities for Canadians and visitors to connect with the story of this iconic species".

Harvey Locke, a conservationist, writer and trustee with the Eleanor Luxton Historical Foundation in Banff told CBC:

"This is a great day for Banff National Park. It's a great day for Canada and frankly, it's one of the great days for wildlife conservation in the history of North America," Locke said.