A rare white bison calf born this spring at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City, Iowa, has died. The calf was born on April 30 and was considered a sacred symbol of hope and renewal by many Native American tribes.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, only about 1 in 1 million bison calves are born white. Officials with the refuge shared the news on its Facebook page and are working to communicate with Native American tribes in a timely and respectful manner.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners are gathering information and evaluating the circumstances surrounding the calf’s death. Photos of the white bison were shared on social media, showing the calf grazing at the refuge.

Original reporting: KCCI Des Moines — read the source article.