A herd of beefy, long-horned tauros are to be launched right into a Highlands rewilding undertaking to duplicate the ecological function of the aurochs, an extinct, large herbivore that’s the wild ancestor of cattle.
The tauros have been bred within the Netherlands lately to fill the area of interest vacated by the aurochs, which as soon as formed landscapes and strengthened wildlife throughout Europe.
Timber for Life, the rewilding charity, is planning to create the primary British herd of as much as 15 of the animals on its 4,000-hectare (9,884-acre) Dundreggan property close to Loch Ness, in a scientific analysis undertaking geared toward enhancing biodiversity, schooling and ecotourism.
“Introducing the aurochs-like tauros to the Highlands 4 centuries after their wild ancestors have been pushed to extinction will refill a significant however empty ecological area of interest – permitting us to review how these exceptional wild cattle is usually a highly effective ally for tackling the character and local weather emergencies,” mentioned Steve Micklewright, the chief government of Timber for Life.
The heaviest of Europe’s land mammals after the woolly mammoth and woolly rhinoceros, aurochs disappeared from Britain round 1300BC. Habitat loss and searching led to their extinction, with the final feminine having perished in Poland in 1627. The DNA of aurochs survives in some historic cattle breeds.
For the reason that early 2000s, scientists within the Netherlands have sought to deliver aurochs again to life by interbreeding historic cattle breeds which can be genetically closest to the aurochs. This has been aided by the primary sequencing of the aurochs’ full genome, in 2011. Tauros have been “back-bred” to genetically replicate, resemble and behave like aurochs as carefully as attainable.
Whereas categorised as home cattle, tauros are related in dimension to aurochs. Bulls can attain as much as 180cm in shoulder-height, in contrast with the 120cm most peak of a Highland bull.
European research have discovered that tauros are extra energetic than different cattle, shifting throughout landscapes in social teams and making a mosaic of various habitats. Rutting tauros kind “bull pits”, bowls of naked earth carved out by bulls’ horns and hooves, with the mighty beasts additionally strengthening their neck muscle mass by smashing their heads in opposition to one aspect of the pit. Such microhabitats assist ground-dwelling invertebrates and pioneer crops.
Micklewright added: “Our tauros undertaking is about wanting forwards whereas studying from the previous as we restore nature-rich landscapes that assist wildlife and other people, and are resilient to future environmental challenges. We additionally wish to give folks the prospect to expertise in a protected manner the awe and surprise of getting near an animal that feels actually wild.”
An earlier try to breed an aurochs lookalike, Heck cattle, was developed by Lutz and Heinz Heck within the Nineteen Twenties. This aggressive breed – initially related to Nazi Germany – has been deployed in some rewilding tasks, though the rewilder Derek Gow removed his British-based herd as a result of they have been too tough to deal with.
Based on Timber for Life, tauros are mentioned to be placid in direction of folks and have been bred from six historic cattle breeds which can be naturally unaggressive.
This article by Patrick Barkham was first revealed by The Guardian on 10 October 2024. Lead Picture: The charity Timber for Life is releasing a herd of tauros into the Highlands as a part of a analysis undertaking to spice up biodiversity, schooling and ecotourism. {Photograph}: © Grazelands Rewilding.
What you are able to do
Assist to avoid wasting wildlife by donating as little as $1 – It solely takes a minute.
