Yellowstone officials: Rare white buffalo sacred to Native Americans not seen since June 4 birth

Miss Shoshnone-Bannock Queen Develynn Hall takes the stage during a naming ceremony for a white buffalo calf at the headquarters of the Buffalo Field Campaign in West Yellowstone, Mont., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The reported birth of the calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson)

Yellowstone National Park officials said Friday a rare white buffalo sacred to Native Americans has not been seen since its birth on June 4.

Devin Oldman, a member of the Northern Arapahoe tribe, speaks during a naming ceremony for a white buffalo calf at the headquarters of the Buffalo Field Campaign in West Yellowstone, Mont., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The reported birth of the calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson)

The birth of the white buffalo in the wild, which fulfilled a Lakota prophecy that portends better times, was the first recorded in Yellowstone history and is a landmark event for the ecocultural recovery of bison, said park officials in confirming the birth for the first time.

Yellowstone Park White Buffalo

It is an extraordinarily rare occurrence: A white buffalo is born once in every 1 million births, or even less frequently, the park said.

People gather at the headquarters of the Buffalo Field Campaign in West Yellowstone, Mont., for the naming ceremony of a recently born white buffalo, Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The reported birth of the white buffalo calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson)

Whether the calf – named Wakan Gli, which means “Return Sacred” in Lakota – is still alive is unknown.

Yellowstone Park White Buffalo

Each spring, about one in five calves die shortly after birth due to natural hazards but park officials declined to directly respond to questions about whether officials believed it has died.

Ota Bluehorse, a member of the Spirit Lake Tribe, wears a headdress adorned with bison horns during a naming ceremony for a white buffalo calf at the Buffalo Field Campaign headquarters in West Yellowstone, Mont., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The reported birth of a white buffalo calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson)

They confirmed its birth after receiving photos and reports from multiple park visitors, professional wildlife watchers, commercial guides and researchers. But since June 4, park staffers have not been able to find it and officials are not aware of any other confirmed sightings.

Yellowstone Park White Buffalo

Native American leaders earlier this week held a ceremony to honor the sacred birth of the white buffalo and give the name.

Mike Mease, co-founder of the Buffalo Field Campaign, speaks next to a photograph of a white buffalo calf during a naming ceremony for the recently born calf in West Yellowstone, Mont., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The reported birth of the calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson)

Dallas Gudgell, vice president of the Buffalo Field Campaign and member of the Assiniboine Souix, laughs during a naming ceremony for a white buffalo calf in West Yellowstone, Mont., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The reported birth of a white buffalo calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson)

Ota Bluehorse wears a ceremonial headdress adorned with bison horns while attending a naming ceremony for a white buffalo calf, Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at the headquarters of the Buffalo Field Campaign in West Yellowstone, Mont. The reported birth of a white buffalo calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson)

Mike Mease, co-founder of the Buffalo Field Campaign, raises his arms while concluding a speech during a naming ceremony for a recently born white buffalo calf in West Yellowstone, Mont., Wednesday, June 26, 2024. The reported birth of the calf in Yellowstone National Park fulfills a Lakota prophecy that portends better times. (AP Photo/Sam Wilson)