Origins of Catalina Island's Bison Herd

Catalina Island's famous bison herd has a mysterious origin. While popular theories attribute their presence to movies like 'The Vanishing American' and 'The Thundering Heard,' both theories have been debunked. The truth likely involves an unknown movie or an endeavor by the island's owners, the Riggly chewing gum family. In the early 19th century, the American buffalo population faced rapid decline due to hunting, railroad expansion, and industrial exploitation. By 1884, there were only 300 to 500 buffalo left alive. The American Bison Society, co-founded by Madison Grant, aimed to preserve the species but was motivated by concerns over 'interbreeding' with cattle rather than conservation. Grant, a racist and eugenicist, penned a book that influenced Nazi ideology and the Holocaust. Through efforts like moving 15 buffalo to Oklahoma in 1907, the American Bison Society made strides in saving the buffalo, eventually resulting in the current population of approximately 450,000 buffalo today.