Vol. 6 No. 3 (2015)

Bison (Bison bison) at Armendaris Ranch, New Mexico, owned by Ted Turner. An adult male of this species can weigh more than one ton and, despite its robust appearance, can run as fast as 50 km/hr. Bisons are highly social, forming herds of more than 100 individuals. This species was driven to near extinction in North America in the early 19th century due to excessive hunting, mainly to sale its fur. Currently, in the grasslands of the Chihuahuan desert in New Mexico, the bison population is in full recovery, including more than 1,000 individuals (Photograph by Jonathan G. Escobar Flores).