TONKA the Buffalo

OVER FIVE YEARS AGO SHARON GAVE ME AN UNFOGRETABLE ANNIVERSAY PRESENT - A NORTH AMERICAN BUFFALO. TONKA WAS ONLY TWO MONTHS OLD AT THE TIME AND WAS ORPHANED AT BIRTH. WE BOTTLE FED FOR NEARLY A YEAR.

YOU MAY WONDER WHAT A BUFFALO IS DOING IN SCOTLAND - MILES FROM THE PRAIRIES OF THE MID-WEST. WELL, SINCE WE LIVE IN THE GROUNDS OF DRUMTOCHTY CASTLE, THE LAIRD WHO IS VERY INTERESTED IN NORTH AMERICAN CULTURE - HAD SOME 60 HEAD OF THEM.

AFTER THE DEATH OF TONKA'S MOTHER, SHE GOT OUT OF HER ENCLOSURE AND CAME RUNNING DOWN THE DRIVE . I QUICKLY GAVE CHASE AND AFTER A COUPLE HOURS - WE FINALLY CAUGHT HER. YOU COULD KIND OF SAY THAT SHE WAS DESTINED TO COME TO LIVE WITH US.

TONKA IS VERY SPECIAL TO US BOTH AND SHE IS A GIFT THAT I WILL NEVER FORET! THANKS SHARON!

WE INTRODUCED TWO NEW PLAY MATES FOR TONKA IN DECEMBER 2006 TO RUN WITH - A FIFTEEN MONTH OLD BULL AND A SIX MONTH OLD FEMALE. HIS NAME IS WAKINA - MEANING "THUNDER" AND CHANTE - "MEANING HEART " (BOTH ARE NAMES IN LAKOTA).

TONKA, WAKINA AND CHANTE ARE VERY HAPPY.

BARRY
Tonka being fed by hand at two to three months old

The Family

Sharon, Barry and Tonka at about three

Tionka July 2007
Tonka & Wakina
Tonka, Chante & Wakina
Tonka and Chante
Tonka 2004
Stages of Tonka
some of Tonka's, Chante's and Wakina's relatives
Grace
Tonka & Chante
Tonka & newborn
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