The Arizona Game and Fish Department have revealed that they are looking for "skilled volunteers" to take part in an organized hunt in an effort to "assist with the removal" of approximately 200 bison from the Grand Canyon National Park.
Per USA Today, he 300 to 500 free-ranging bison located in the park are descendants of the 86 buffalo that were introduced to the area 115 years ago by rancher Charles 'Buffalo' Jones.
However, since then, the numbers of bison have continued to increase, reportedly placing a strain on the area's resources.
A statement posted to the Grand Canyon National Park Twitter page reads:
"The NPS, in cooperation with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, seeks skilled volunteers to assist with the removal of bison on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in the fall of 2021. Interested parties should carefully read this announcement..."
The tweet was accompanied with a link to the official National Park Service website, and to a page with the headline: "Grand Canyon National Park Seeks Skilled Volunteers for North Rim Bison Reduction".
The page states that "the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), seeks skilled volunteers to assist with the removal of bison on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park in the fall of 2021".
The reasoning behind the hunt, according to the NPS website, is that concerns have been raised over the park's resources, "such as water, vegetation, soils, archaeological sites and values such as visitor experience and wilderness character".
"Reducing the herd size will protect the park ecosystem, resources and values," the NPS states.
USA Today states that it will be the "first controlled bison hunt inside Grand Canyon National Park".
The publication adds that 25 qualified applicants will be selected - and from that pool, 12 people will be chosen by random lottery to participate in the controlled hunt.
Despite the positive intentions, many people have responded on Twitter, blasting the organizer and calling for a better solution.
One critic wrote: "Who are you to decide that their lives should just be extinguished because they have become inconvenient. They each value their life as much as you do your own. FIND A BETTER SOLUTION!"
Another adds: "The hunt should be illegal, who are we to say they can’t live and breed, are we going to start shooting humans in the future when we over populate the planet, earth doesn’t belong to humans".
A third added: "Horrible and appalling. To choose to take the lives of animals when you are entrusted to preserve nature - ironic and disgusting!"
