Symbolic animal added to Saskatoon zoo

A white beefalo now roams the bison exhibit at Saskatoon's Forestry Farm.

The four-year-old calf is a Charolais and Bison hybrid that looks similar to a White Buffalo — an animal First Nations and Métis people consider sacred.

“The welcoming of this animal to the Saskatoon Zoo is an opportunity to educate the public on First Nations culture, while creating awareness of the work the White Buffalo Youth Lodge does to promote a positive quality of life to all inner city youth in Saskatoon,” said Tribal Chief Felix Thomas, Saskatoon Tribal Council, in a media release Thursday.

Zoo manager, John Moran, said they will use their latest addition to tell the traditional Lakota story of the White Buffalo Calf Woman.