Extinct Aurochs’ Modern Descendant Set for Release in Danish Wilderness

In this pioneering conservation and cultural project, thirty tauros are thus prepared for release in the Saksfjed Vildmark. This extraordinary, unique breed was created through an international backbreeding program. These auxoress such a magnificent military animals aurochs animals represent a huge achievement our ecological reproduction of the aurochs’ expression. This majestic species, the largest terrestrial…

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Extinct Aurochs’ Modern Descendant Set for Release in Danish Wilderness

In this pioneering conservation and cultural project, thirty tauros are thus prepared for release in the Saksfjed Vildmark. This extraordinary, unique breed was created through an international backbreeding program. These auxoress such a magnificent military animals aurochs animals represent a huge achievement our ecological reproduction of the aurochs’ expression. This majestic species, the largest terrestrial mammal in history, once roamed across Europe, Asia and North Africa before going extinct in 1627.

Breeding program, largely supported by English conservationist Nigel Pascoe, designed to replicate the traits of the ancient aurochs. This effort employed “backbreeding” methods, pulling genetic material from six of the world’s most ancient cattle breeds. By carefully selecting traits that closely align with those of the aurochs, wildlife officials hope to reintroduce a breed that can thrive in Denmark’s ecosystems.

The Aurochs: A Lost Giant

These aurochs were magnificent beasts. Bulls loomed at over six feet high at the shoulder and weighed more than 3,000 pounds. Their fabulous, ornamental horns might have exceeded the length of three feet. Historically, these grand animals were landscape engineers, leaving indelible impacts on the ecosystems they traversed. They preserved ecosystems that billions of other species depended upon. Centuries of aggressive hunting and habitat destruction caught up. In 1627, the last aurochs died, bringing a fascinating chapter of mammalian history to a close.

With their disappearance, a big ecological hole opened up. The extinction of the aurochs radically affected manmade and natural landscapes alike, unbalancing well-established ecosystems. The reintroduction of tauros seeks to fill this gap. It tries to replace some of the ecological functions the aurochs used to take care of.

The Tauros Breeding Program

The tauros breeding program is a transnational collaboration between geneticists and conservationists from Germany, Slovakia, the Netherlands and more. They mostly recruited from southern and eastern Europe to create this new breed. The hope was to produce an animal that looked as much like the aurochs as possible. We wanted it to have behavioral characteristics so it could succeed in a natural setting.

There’s especially great footage of the tauros showing off their social behavior and adaptability to various habitats. These traits will become necessary if they’re reintroduced into the wild. As they prepare for their release, the team is conditioning the animals to their new environment. The entire process further teaches them how to move efficiently in their new environment.

Release into the Wild

The Saksfjed Vildmark is a little over 2,000 acres. It is currently owned by the Hempel Foundation, which extensively supports wildlife conservation. It will be a historic moment, as it will be the first time that tauros will have walked Danish soil. Wildlife officials are hopeful that these animals will assume the ecological role formerly played by the aurochs. Their survival would have a lasting positive impact on local biodiversity.

Tauros will be a winner for a host of endangered species. These species require varied landscapes for their existence. Ecosystem engineers Tauros model the grazing patterns and herd behavior of the prehistoric stampede. This allows healthy grasslands and woodlands to spread across the wilderness area.