American bison are an unexpected sight for visitors to Santa Catalina Island, a popular vacation getaway in the Pacific Ocean that is just 26 miles west of Los Angeles in Southern California, USA. More commonly known as buffalo, they can be encountered on tours inland from Avalon, the island's only town and major tourist destination. The 14 buffalo that were brought to Catalina in 1924 to appear in a Hollywood cowboy movie eventually grew to more than 500 animals that roamed the 76-square-mile island. The herd has since been reduced to about 150 to protect the arid island's native plant life.
American bison are an unexpected sight for visitors to Santa Catalina Island, a popular vacation getaway in the Pacific Ocean that is just 26 miles (42 kilometers) west of Los Angeles in Southern California, USA. More commonly known as buffalo, they can be encountered on tours inland from Avalon, the island's only town and major tourist destination. The 14 buffalo that were brought to Catalina in 1924 to appear in a Hollywood cowboy movie eventually grew to more than 500 animals that roamed the 76-square-mile (197-square-kilometer) island. The herd has since been reduced to about 150 to protect the arid island's native plant life and the health of future bison offspring. Meanwhile, the big shaggy creature has become a symbol of Catalina; buffalo burgers are even a favorite menu item in Avalon restaurants (although the meat is imported from bison ranches in South Dakota).
Size: 2442px × 3800px
Location: Santa Catalina Island, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Photo credit: © Michele and Tom Grimm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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