The Abilene Zoo announced the return of American bison to their facility, reintroducing one of North America’s most iconic species to the community after a 14-year absence.
The arrival of Uno, an eight-year-old male bison, marks the first step in the zoo’s effort to bring bison back to its exhibits. Uno will soon be joined by a female bison, both donated by the Weilert family, who have housed them on a private ranch outside Abilene.
"We are excited to welcome these majestic creatures to our zoo," said Jesse Pottebaum, Zoo Director. "Bison are a symbol of resilience and strength, and their presence here allows us to educate the public about the efforts being made to protect and restore their populations in the wild."
Bison were previously exhibited at the Abilene Zoo until 2011 when they were relocated to a private facility. The decision to return them stemmed from Steve Weilert, who donated Uno after he was displaced from his herd by another male bison.
"I've loved bison my whole life, and I remember as a kid just being fascinated by them—their size and beauty," Weilert said. "I've always wanted to see them brought back to the zoo so kids today can see and appreciate how magnificent they are. This is a dream come true for our family."
Uno is on exhibit daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More information and ticket purchases are available at abilenezoo.org.