Buffalo Land Park handed to group for $1

The province has cut a deal with an organization to take over Buffalo Land Provincial Park, but the tourism minister won’t confirm the identity of the group.

The Prince Edward Island Regulatory and Appeals Commission website shows that a group called Moonlight International Foundation applied to operate the park.

The province wanted to offload the animals, hoping to save $15,000 to $40,000 a year.

Under the conveyance agreement, the group taking over the park will take care of the land and animals. The deal cost the group $1.

Minister Rob Henderson said he’ll reveal all the details at a meeting in Montague Tuesday night.

"The main issue is that the buffalo remain at that location," he said. "They remain a tourism attraction. They remain a novelty to the individuals in the area who feel they are important."

The park will remain open to the public and no admission will be charged.

"The province doesn’t have to take responsibility for the cost of the herd," he said.

Henderson noted under a conveyance agreement, if the group doesn’t meet its end of the deal or doesn’t want to continue with the operation, the province can take back the property.