The Story of the Buffalo
Greetings relatives,
As the public
knowledge of this event of the birth of the white and black buffalo in
Farmington, Pennsylvania has become more widespread, many questions
have been raised. If we try hard enough, we can find a way to justify
and explain away everything. Because of this, I brought many of the
questions people have been asking to Jill and Sonny Herring, owners of
the Zoo where the buffalo were born. It is not our place to convince
anyone of anything, the message, the information, is simply being
shared. What you choose to believe or not believe is up to each
individual.
On November 26, 2007, I made my
regular visit to the zoo. While there, I asked Jill and Sonny about the
time line of events regarding the births of the white and black
buffalo. Here is their detailed response:
The
zoo’s original pair of buffalo, Barney and Betty, became the parents of
a normal brown male calf in late May of 2006. This gestation was a
typical nine months. On Nov. 12, 2006 Betty gave birth again, this time
to the white male. This is the rising of the Buffalo Constellation,
what is commonly known as Orion. She gave birth to him approximately
five months after she birthed the brown calf. This raised a few obvious
questions. How did she give birth again so soon after the first calf?
Was she impregnated while she was already pregnant? Did she have two
sets of reproductive organs? Can buffalo produce offspring by
parthenogenesis? How did this happen?
Because
Barney was difficult to handle and creating problems, he was sold and
left the zoo on Nov. 7, 2006. On Nov. 17, 2006, a second female was
delivered to the zoo. Female buffalo typically go into estrus at three
to four years old. This second female was a two year old when she
arrived. Nine months after this second female arrived at the zoo, she
gave birth to the black female. Jill and Sonny were assured this
female had never been bred. There had not been a male anywhere near
this female, other than the white male, who was only days old when the
female arrived and much too young to have impregnated her. When the
female black calf was born, the white male immediately began to care
for her, keeping her close, ensuring she had all she needed and never
came to harm. From what is understood about the behavior of male
buffalo, they stay away from the calves. Typically it is the mother and
other females who protect the calves, yet the white immediately stepped
into this role and continues to accept this responsibility.
There were many other unusual events that happened at the zoo since the birth of the white male:
- Two red tail hawks, a wild mated male and female who live in the woods surrounding the zoo, turned white after the birth of the white buffalo in 2006. One day they were normally colored red tail hawks, the next day they were white. In the summer of 2008, the female hawk was struck and killed on the highway. In the fall the male choose a new mate. She also turned white.
- In the spring of 2007, a bald eagle came to visit the zoo (an very uncommon occurrence in this part of the country.) The eagle flew directly to the white buffalo and spent the day with him. This was witnessed by many people.
- In 2008, a white deer was born at the zoo. The fawn would regularly escape its enclosure and would always be found with the white buffalo. It continued to do this until it grew too big to get out of its enclosure. The white buffalo never once harmed it.
June
23rd, 2009 was a sad day. This was when we learned the zoo was closing,
and these two Sacred Animals would be auctioned off. Buffalo Messengers
immediately began doing everything possible to become the highest
bidder, insuring these Sacred Animals would not leave this mountain, as
instructed by visiting Elders and Medicine People. After press releases
to Native and non-Native publications and requests to organizations and
Tribal entities, in the 11th hour, when no one else would, Mr. Joseph
Hardy and his daughter, Maggie Hardy Magerko, of 84 Lumber and
Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, stepped in to provide a new home.
Nemacolin
is less than 5 miles from these Sacred Animals original home. The
generosity of the Hardys' has been nothing short of amazing. A 50 acre
sanctuary has been created, with a majestic habitat erected. Future
plans include an interpretive village, camping facilities and a museum.
All of this is being gifted to anyone who chooses to come. Anyone, at
anytime, can now witness these two Sacred Animals, with absolutely no
fee's involved. All of this has been created as a gift to the world.
Thank you simply does not seem to be enough.
Buffalo
Messengers has continued its work with Nemacolin and the Hardy's.
Members of Buffalo Messengers are here daily, and assist the Hardy's
and staff of Nemacolin in caring for these two Sacred Animals. With
advice and counsel from traditional Elders and leaders, these two
Sacred Animals are presented respectfully, along with First Nations
culture. Authenticity is maintained, so First Nations culture is never manipulated, exploited or imitated. The needs of these two Sacred
Animals are being met, above and beyond what was prayed for. In this
new home, these two Sacred Animals are venerated, and the message of
healing, unity and peace prevails. The staff of Buffalo Messengers
understands this is an honor and a privilege. To serve in this capacity
is a humbling responsibility. There have been those who have attempted
to use this place and these events in such a way as to profit from
them. In this role, we will continue do all we can to see that does not
happen.
No one, other than prominent, highly
respected Elders and Leaders, have ever claimed these buffalo are from
virgin births. And only after ceremony did the Elders and Spiritual
Leaders issue these statements. Are these two, the black and the
white, gifts from the Creator to the People as recognized Elders and
Spiritual Leaders are saying?
Now it is your
turn to decide. No one can force you to believe. Do you trust the
Elders and Spiritual Leaders who have prayed over these events and
given their answers to the People? This is the definition of faith - to
believe what appears to be unbelievable. These two buffalo do not
belong to one People, one Nation. They belong to everyone, worldwide.
Everyone, regardless of Nation, is welcome to come and pray.
~ hawk
PLEASE SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK AND THOUGHTS
about what you have read on this site through our guestbook
(click on link below to access the guestbook, or on link on the sidebar:)
