Don't be fooled by this little calf - she has a big future ahead of her. Bison are the largest land mammals in North America: two metres high, weighing a tonne, and stampeding across the Great Plains at up to 40 miles per hour.

Born on 22 April, this baby is the first purebredBison are also known as buffalo, although they are not related to the true buffalo of Africa and Asia. Most bison are the result of cross-breeding with cattle, and there are very few proper purebred bison left. bison to be born since 1876 in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Her parents were two of 11 animals brought last year from a herd in Yellowstone National Park.

But 200 years ago, the grasslands of North America trembled under the hooves of millions of these massive beasts. A truly prehistoric animal, the bison survived the last Ice Age and came to dominate the prairiesEnormous stretches of flat grassland with moderate temperatures, moderate rainfall, and few trees. Usually, refers to the golden, wheat-covered land in the middle of North America.. Native Americans considered them sacred and used every part of the animal for food, tools, and clothing.

So, what happened to them? In the 19th Century, as Europeans moved into Native American territory, they slaughtered the animals in order to destroy the native way of life and force the tribes off the land. By 1900, there were fewer than 600 bison left.

But one calf at a time, they are coming back. And Native Americans are leading the charge. The Wanuskewin Heritage Park, where this calf was born, is run by First NationsApproximately, one million Canadians are indigenous people descended from the societies living in North America before the arrival of European settlers.. And in 2014, 13 tribes from across America and Canada signed the Buffalo Treaty to work together to restore the bison to its ancient territory.

In 2016, President Obama officially made it the national mammal of the United States. However, this isn't just about symbols and cultural heritage.

The bison are a force of nature. You might think a herd of bison in your neighbourhood would cause mayhem and destruction. But researchers at Yellowstone have discovered that the intensive grazing of thousands of these voracious animals has the opposite effect.

By munching the green shoots on the prairie, they encourage new growth and lengthen and intensify the spring months.

By shaping the land and seasons, they support a whole ecosystem of life from dung beetles to the grizzly bear. So, although she doesn't know it, this newborn calf has an important job to do in re-wilding North America and bringing back the ancient prairies.

Not really. Some think this is just a romantic nostalgia for a lost age. Humans have settled across America's wilderness, built towns, and put up fences. The great majestic herds of bison are never coming back - nor would we want them to. Civilisation is not compatible with the uncontrolled wilderness of free-roaming bison and other wild animals.

Yes! Supporters of re-wilding and many Native Americans say civilisation and the wilderness have co-existed for centuries. Restoring these animals to their habitat not only makes our world more diverse and interesting, it teaches us how to create sustainable ecosystems and how to live in harmony with the natural world.