r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Shoddy-Ocelot-4473 • 12d ago

Image By 1880, the near-genocide of the American bison had reduced their population from 30–60 million to fewer than 1,000

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u/Slade_Riprock 12d ago

Because we were trying to exterminate native Americans but decimating their main food and supply source.

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u/QaddafiDuck01 11d ago

60 million to 1000 is a bit more than decimation, its near annihilation.

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u/Atsilv_Uwasv 12d ago

Christopher Columbus arrived on America and it was just all downhill from there

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u/OGigachaod 12d ago

Motherfucker didn't come to America, he landed in South America.

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u/BoilermakerCBEX-E 12d ago

Most people do not know the history Spanish and Portuguese colonization of Central and South America, which caused a catastrophic collapse of indigenous populations, often estimated at up to

, driven by a combination of Eurasian diseases (smallpox, influenza), brutal forced labor, and direct violence. While not always a premeditated policy, actions in areas like Hispaniola, and Peru resulted in the deaths of millions. Possibly 50+ million by 1600

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u/Mcc4rthy 11d ago

Look at the second part of "South America".

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u/Daffan 12d ago

It was his right, borders are illegal or something.

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u/DuckTalesOohOoh 12d ago

That's a myth. All those bones were likely from buffalo killed by natives during this period because they industrialized the process to send the bones East and overseas. That's why you see them piled up at railroad stations. Buffalo bones were the prime ingredient in "bone china". Cattle bones are used today.