White Buffalo Now Stands Alone

White Buffalo Now Stands Alone AG WORLD 27-5-21 ere have been several reports of white buffalo calves born over the past few years, but only one was a true albino that stayed white into adulthood, according to Felicia Sargeant at the National Buffalo Museum, Jamestown, North Dakota. That albino buffalo is named White Cloud and it's the star attraction at the museum. "People just want to get a look at her," says Sargeant. "For many Native Americans, it's a spiritual experience." Some Native Americans see the birth of White Cloud as a sign of great change in the world, while others see it as a sign of peace, prosperity, unity and hope. White Cloud is part of a herd of 50 buffalo. Dan Shirek, original owner of White Cloud, recalls how the other buffalo seemed to gather around her the day she was born. Today the Shireks manage a 200-head buffalo herd near Michigan, North Dakota. Although White Cloud's dam is still with the herd and calves each year, they have not had any more albinos. That isn't surprising, as the odds of a true albino are only one in a billion. The last known albino bison died in 1959. Other white buffalo calves have been born, but change color as they get older. A true albino is rare. "There was one more that same year, but it died," recalls Dan Shirek. White Cloud herself has had two calves, neither of them albino, although like her dam, they carry the albino gene. Unfortunately for the bison industry, non-albinos aren't in as much demand. "The whole buffalo industry is at a low point right now," says Sargeant. Contact FARM SHOW Followup, Felicia Sargeant, National Buffalo Museum, Box 1712, Jamestown, N. Dak. 58402 (ph 800-22-BISON).

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