Mexico brings back 47 bison as ecosystem slowly begins to recover
After an absence of 160 years, American bison have made a remarkable comeback to Coahuila, Mexico. These majestic animals have become vital ecosystem engineers, actively rejuvenating worn-out landscapes. Their presence enhances soil quality and promotes water absorption in the dry terrain. Additionally, this return facilitates the resurgence of native predators and other wildlife, reflecting a…
Nearly 50 American bison were reintroduced to Cuatrociénegas, a UNESCO-recognized nature reserve in Mexico’s Coahuila state, in 2025. The Fundación Pro Cuatro Ciénegas, spearheading the initiative, aims to heal a devastated ecosystem that had been absent of bison for approximately 160 years. The bison reintroduction has begun to reactivate the dynamics and health of the ecosystem.
Gerardo Ruiz Smith, the director of the foundation, expressed optimism in seeing the impact of bringing back a fundamental species. The American bison, the largest land mammal on the continent, was once present in the plains of Mexico, including the states of Sonora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Durango. Their disappearance was due to excessive hunting, agricultural expansion, cattle ranching, and habitat loss in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
The bison’s reintroduction is crucial in regenerating the grassland, improving water infiltration, reducing wildfire risk, and strengthening biodiversity in the Chihuahuan Desert. Their presence has also attracted the return of previously absent animals such as pumas, lynxes, and the collared peccary, as well as local bird species. This project in Coahuila connects to a growing movement to restore bison across North America.
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