Several years ago, the number of wood bison became so low that conservationists began breeding the wood bison in an enclosed refuge. In this time, the number of wood bison has tripled and, according to conservationists, this number is enough for a species to remain viable in the wild. Yet since the wood bison's habitat is still imperiled, conservationists plan to move the wood bison 2, 000 miles away, where the American buffalo, a distinct species, flourishes. The conservationists predict that such a plan will allow for the long-term viability of the wood bison as a species.
The statement 'The American buffalo and the wood bison readily mingle, and, in the past, this has lead the two species to mix so that the number of actual wood bison declines steadily' calls into question the conservationist's prediction.