Supporters rally to keep buffalo at provincial park

There's growing support to keep a provincial park home to 25buffaloopen in eastern P.E.I.

The province is considering removing the animals as a way to save money.

Organizers of the Save our Buffalo rally, held Saturday, say more than150 people visited the park Saturday in a four-hour span and more than 150 peoplesigned the petition to ensure the buffalo stay put.

The buffalo at Buffalo Land Provincial Park are a draw for visitors in the eastern part of P.E.I.

The province is still trying to figure out what to do with the park. No one has come forward to buy it and the government doesn't want to keep spending $40,000 a year to keep the buffalo there.

The province says it won't take drastic measures.

"We want to make sure that these buffalo are treated in a proper fashion. And I don't think we're looking at a mass slaughter," Tourism Minister Robert Hendersontold CBC Newslast month.

Organizers say the animals should stay and they've been overwhelmed by support on social media and visitors dropping by to sign their petition.

"People showed today that they really do care and that the dollars and cents could be saved in another area, rather than taking away from residents of P.E.I.," said Jonathon Tsamantanis, one of the rally's organizers.

For Tara Stewart, the animals have added meaning her dad brought the animalsto the parknearly 40 years ago as a gift from the province of Alberta.

"If we were to lose that, I'm afraid of what could happen to this land down the road. One of the factors in moving to this part of the island for me, was being surrounded by nature," Stewart said.

Park admission is free.

The province had been hoping to sell the park or the herd this year, but with little interest, they are prepared to keep them for at least another winter.