Bison Revive Mexico’s Ecosystem
Bison are helping bring new life to a protected landscape in northern Mexico after disappearing from the region more than a century ago. Last year, conservationists reintroduced 47 bison to the El Santuario Reserve in Cuatrociénegas, part of the Chihuahuan Desert. Since then, the animals have naturally reshaped the landscape through everyday behaviors like grazing, walking, and spreading seeds. Their hooves break up the ground, allowing more water to reach the soil and creating better conditions for plants to grow, while their grazing removes dry vegetation that can contribute to wildfires. Their manure also attracts dung beetles, which help return nutrients to the soil. Researchers are already seeing encouraging signs throughout the ecosystem, with cameras capturing pumas, lynxes, and birds in areas where they had previously been absent. The project shows how bringing back a species that once played an important role in a landscape can help nature restore itself.
Image via AS
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