American bison recovery (1889-2000s)
Bison were hunted from tens of millions to fewer than 1,000 by 1889. A handful of private herds and Yellowstone National Park preserved the species.
Protected herds grew slowly through the early 20th century.
Today roughly 500,000 bison live in North America, though most are in commercial herds.
Shows a species can recover from a tiny founder population, but true wild recovery takes decades of protected management.
