Guests from the west are invited to Werribee Open Range Zoo to see a special member of the crew this winter.
Lakota, a 1000-kilogram American bison, made the transition into public life last month when he moved habitats.
He previously lived in an off public view habitat with his father, who recently died from an age-related condition.
Since joining 11 female bison at the zoo, he has been warmly accepted by other members of his species.
“The females barrelled over to him – they all came together for the first time, there was a lot of circling of each other,” savannah keeper Kylie Bawden said.
“Being animals that are very driven by smell, Lakota’s nostrils were the size of tennis balls as he took in his new surroundings.
“This was followed by some really tender moments as their noses came together to greet one another.”
He is also quite revered by members of other species.
“It is a beautiful thing to witness the migration of a majestic, one-tonne bison with a massive presence,” Ms Bawden said,
“It’s quite epic!”
Lakota’s introduction to the female herd is not for breeding– as his genetics are already well represented in the region – but to support his welfare through socialisation.
The move mirrors natural bison behaviour, where males and females occasionally travel together in loosely associated groups.
He may have blended in seamlessly, but he still stands out.
“Lakota is quite distinguishable because of his size – he is almost double the size of the females. He stands a mile out from the female herd,” Ms Bawden said.
Once roaming North America in the tens of millions, American Bison were hunted to the brink of extinction in the 19th century.
Conservation efforts have rebounded the population to 31,000 in conservation managed herds, however, the species is still classified as near threatened in the wild where only about 15,000 live.
They face ongoing challenges including habitat destruction, fragmentation, and limited genetic diversity.
