April 13, 2026 Elk Island National Park, Alberta Parks Canada
Today, the Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Nature shared that the Government of Canada is transferring 44 wood bison from Elk Island National Park to the State of Alaska.
The Government of Canada has been a leader in bison conservation for over a century and is committed to ensuring bison roam the North American landscape for generations to come. An iconic species, the survival of bison in Canada and their rescue from near-extinction is one of the greatest conservation success stories of Parks Canada and its partners.
This is the fourth bison transfer from the national park to the State of Alaska, which previously received wood bison from Elk Island in 2008, 2022 and 2024. Through these ongoing conservation-focused transfers across North America, the Government of Canada is contributing to the long‑term recovery of this iconic species.
The transfer of wood bison to the State of Alaska contributes to the global security of wood bison. Bison from Elk Island National Park are part of a larger effort to conserve the species and bring them back to their territories. Through the history of Elk Island National Park's transfer program, bison have returned to Indigenous nations, other national parks in Canada, and conservation projects throughout North America and beyond.
To protect Canada's lands and waters, the Government of Canada recently announced A Force of Nature: Canada's Strategy to Protect Nature. With an investment of $3.8 billion, Canada's new nature strategy will protect and restore critical habitats, including the creation of new national parks, national marine conservation areas, and national urban parks. This funding will also support the recovery of wood bison populations along the Alberta-Northwest Territories border, through a $90 million investment into the Wood Buffalo National Park World Heritage Site Action Plan.
