The Extermination of the American Bison

William Temple Hornaday, Sc. D. (1854-1937) was an American zoologist, realtor, conservationist, author, poet and songwriter. He was born in Indiana, and educated at Oskaloosa College. He spent 15 years, 1877-1878 in India and Ceylon collecting specimens. In May 1878 he reached southeast Asia and traveled in Malaya and Sarawak in Borneo. He served as chief taxidermist of the United States National Museum in 1882-1890. He was appointed director of the New York Zoological Park in 1896, became president of the Permanent Wild Life Protective Association, and was president of the American Bison Society in 1907-1910. He revolutionized museum exhibits by displaying wildlife in their natural settings, and is credited with saving the American bison and the Alaskan fur seal from extinction. He was able to exert some influence which led to the passage of legislation which extended protection to wild birds, game, bison, seals, and wild life in general. He wrote many magazine articles and books like The Extermination of the American Bison (1889), Our Vanishing Wild Life (1913), The Minds and Manners of Wild Animals (1922).