Bison reintroduction restores ecosystems in Cuatro Ciénegas

The reintroduction of American bison to the El Santuario reserve in Cuatro Ciénegas, Coahuila, is driving significant ecological restoration. Nearly a year after the arrival of the first specimens, the project is showing measurable improvements in soil health, grass germination, and water infiltration.

As large herbivores, the bison facilitate these changes through their movement and biological processes. Their weight and hooves help decompact soil, while their dust baths create depressions that capture rainwater. Additionally, their manure and urine return essential nutrients to the earth, aided by dung beetles that incorporate organic matter into the soil. The bison also act as natural seed dispersers.

Gerardo Ruiz, director of the Fundación Pro Cuatro Ciénegas, noted that the project represents a historical repair after more than a century of the species' absence. The initial group, which included 44 specimens from Janos, Chihuahua, and three from the Museo del Desierto, has adapted well, with eight calves already born.