The American Buffalo / Bison which roamed the plains and numbered over 50 million are now down to a mere 4000 animals and concerns over extinction means more work and money is to be spent to save this important part of the American Heritage. It is estimated that there are now only four free roaming and genetically pure herds of American Bison / Buffalo on public lands in North America, Yellowstone National Park, ( 4,000 Bison ) Henry Mountains in Utah, ( 500 Bison ) Wind Cave National Park in South Dakota ( 1,500 Bison ) Elk Island in Alberta, Canada. ( 500 Bison ).

The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century, ( when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring Earth's view of the Sun ) lasting up to 6 minutes and 38.8 seconds, occurs off the coast of Southeast Asia. The total eclipse was seen for shorter timespans in the Maldives, northern Pakistan, northern India, northern Bangladesh, Bhutan, northern Philippines, central China and the Pacific Ocean.