#1568 The American Buffalo: a New Documentary by Ken Burns
Oct 10, 2023
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Ken Burns, a documentary filmmaker, discusses his latest documentary on the American Buffalo. Topics include William Hornaday's role in buffalo conservation, Theodore Roosevelt's involvement, and the significance of the buffalo to America's heritage. The speaker also shares personal encounters with buffalos and their longstanding collaboration with Ken Burns.
Preservation of the buffalo population in America was successful due to the efforts of figures like Theodore Roosevelt and William Hornaday.
The American Prairie Reserve in Montana aims to create a large buffalo pasture, but faces controversy from heritage ranchers.
Theodore Roosevelt recognized the destruction of the West and took unprecedented action to preserve its natural beauty and restore ecological balance.
Deep dives
Historical Importance of Buffalo Preservation
The podcast discusses the historical significance of preserving the buffalo population in America. It highlights how the buffalo came close to extinction due to systematic slaughter, but efforts led by figures like Theodore Roosevelt and William Hornaday were successful in saving the species. The buffalo is seen as a symbol of America and the frontier, and its preservation is viewed as essential for maintaining the country's natural heritage.
Controversy Surrounding American Prairie Reserve
The podcast explores the American Prairie Reserve in Montana, a nonprofit organization working to create a large buffalo pasture in east-central Montana. The initiative aims to restore a 3.5 million-acre buffalo commons by acquiring ranches and removing fences. While the project is praised for its conservation goals, it also faces criticism from heritage ranchers who feel threatened by the influx of wealthy individuals purchasing land at premium prices. The controversy highlights the tension between preservation efforts and the interests of local ranching communities.
Personal Encounters with Buffalo and The Rendezvous of Roosevelt and Hornaday
The host shares personal experiences with seeing buffalo in the wild during hikes along the Missouri River and visits to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Additionally, the podcast recounts the serendipitous meeting between Theodore Roosevelt and William Hornaday in 1886. Hornaday, a taxidermist and conservationist, was working on a glass box diorama featuring bison when Roosevelt, who had recently killed his own buffalo, stumbled upon the exhibit. Their meeting eventually led to a partnership in conservation efforts to save the buffalo from extinction.
William Hornaday and the conservation of the buffalo
William Hornaday, an American naturalist, played a crucial role in the conservation of the buffalo. In the late 19th century, when buffalo populations were dwindling, Hornaday realized their impending extinction and the lack of representation at the national museum. He embarked on a journey to the West in search of buffalo specimens for display. However, he was confronted with the devastating sight of hundreds of buffalo carcasses, a result of wanton killing and the tacit understanding to undermine the Native American economy. Hornaday's efforts, along with other non-native individuals, contributed significantly to the preservation of the buffalo population and its cultural significance to Native American communities.
The impact of Theodore Roosevelt and the American West
Theodore Roosevelt, an influential figure in American history, recognized the exploitation and destruction of the West due to unchecked industrialization, overgrazing, and the extinction of species like the buffalo. As President, Roosevelt took unprecedented action by setting aside vast areas of land as national parks, monuments, forests, and game preserves. His conservation efforts aimed to restore ecological balance and preserve the natural beauty of the American West. Roosevelt's actions reflected a shift in perspective, acknowledging the spiritual and cultural importance of nature, symbolized by the buffalo. His legacy is a testament to the evolving relationship between Americans and their environment, as well as the ongoing endeavor to strike a balance between progress and preservation.
Guest host David Horton of Radford University talks with Clay Jenkinson about Ken Burns' latest documentary, The American Buffalo, which premiers on PBS on October 16. Clay has now been in five of Ken Burns' documentaries, and has been one of the historical advisers in two of the films. Among the topics of discussion: Who was William Hornaday and what role did he play in the saving of the buffalo? What was Theodore Roosevelt's role? How do you prepare to be interviewed in a Ken Burns film? Why is the buffalo so important to America's sense of its heritage? Clay also speaks of his own long association with the buffalo, first seen when he was a child in North Dakota’s Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
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