What was the buffalo population between 1800 and 1895?

Between 1800 and 1895, the buffalo population in North America experienced a dramatic decline due to overhunting and habitat loss, primarily driven by westward expansion and the demand for buffalo hides and meat. Estimates suggest that millions of buffalo roamed the plains in the early 1800s, but by the late 1800s, the population plummeted to fewer than a thousand individuals. This near extinction was a result of both direct hunting and the impact of the railroad and cattle ranching on their natural habitat. Conservation efforts began in the late 19th century, leading to the establishment of protected areas and a slow recovery of the buffalo population.