American Prairie is pleased to announce Director of Rewilding Dr. Daniel Kinka will be featured on the upcoming episode of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, airing on Saturday, August 9 at 9:00 a.m. MDT. Kinka will join Wild Kingdom host and wildlife expert Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant.
The episode, titled “Rewilding the American Prairie,” tells the inspiring story of bison and the important role they play, along with prairie dogs and burrowing owls, as ecosystem engineers to restore native grasslands.
Kinka says he’s thrilled to have an Emmy-award-winning program like Wild Kingdom showcase the important work of American Prairie and help educate people of all ages on the significant roles grassland keystone species play.
“Bison are the real rewilders, we’re just trying to give them a space to work,” said Kinka. “Having more of this magnificent animal is essential to restoring biodiversity and ensuring the prairie thrives for generations to come.”
Bison, also commonly known as buffalo, once roamed in the millions on the immense prairies of North America before their populations were brought to the brink of extinction. As the continent’s largest land mammal, bison were crucial in shaping the prairie ecosystem. Today, the species is listed as “near threatened” and “ecologically extinct,” meaning they have begun to recover, but their journey is far from over. With dwindling genetic diversity and the absence of natural selection, bison are not as wild as they once were. But thanks to the efforts of tribal programs, conservation agencies, and organizations like American Prairie, these iconic animals are returning to small pockets of their once vast range.
This year, American Prairie is celebrating 20 years of bison. The herd was established in October 2005 with the transfer of 16 animals from South Dakota’s Wind Cave National Park. Today, there are approximately 900 animals spread out across two properties where they roam a combined total of nearly 60,000 acres.
“How many of us grew up watching Wild Kingdom and imagining faraway places? The American prairies deserve that same attention,” said Kinka. “It is an honor to help celebrate these animals and the communities who shape and are shaped by wild grasslands.”
As seen in this episode, the story of bison conservation and restoration is a story of collaboration. By partnering with a number of conservation organizations and the Intertribal Buffalo Council, American Prairie has distributed more than 600 bison to various tribes and conservation herds across the United States.
Tune in to Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom on NBC this Saturday, August 9 at 9:00 a.m. MDT. You can also learn more about American Prairie by listening to Season 2, Episode 10 of the Wild Kingdom podcast where Kinka talks more about bison restoration and the urgency surrounding grassland conservation.