Tauros Programme
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The Tauros Programme, formerly known as TaurOs Project, is a project to breed a type of cattle that resembles the extinct aurochs, the wild ancestor of domestic cattle.
The project largely uses hardy cattle breeds with superficial resemblance to the extinct aurochs. By crossbreeding and selective breeding it tries to establish similarity to the aurochs. The long-term goal is to release these cattle into rewilding areas.
Background
Herbivorous megafauna are considered important tools of nature conservation in maintaining the biodiversity of open or park-like landscapes without human interference. Therefore, it is planned to reintroduce large game in several reserves to recreate the natural dynamics of the European ecosystems. The aurochs was one of the most important European ungulates but was hunted to extinction over most of Europe in the Middle Ages. Despite attempts at conservation, the last known aurochs died in Jaktorów Forest, Poland in 1627.[1] Thus, so-called rewilding has to work with its domesticated descendants, of which several breeds are hardy and robust enough to fill this gap. In many grazing projects, especially in Germany, Heck cattle are used, together with Galloways and Highland cattle. Heck cattle originated in the 1920s as an attempt by Lutz and Heinz Heck to breed an aurochs look-alike from several cattle breeds. Heck cattle turned out to be a hardy breed, but are found to be considerably different from the aurochs in several aspects.[2]
Methods and goal
TaurOs Project uses very hardy cattle breeds, which should preferably resemble the aurochs to a useful extent. Crossbreeding and selective breeding with such breeds should create new lineages which are hoped to come close to the aurochs as much as possible and are fit for being released in European wild reserves. The project claims to also care about the animals' genetics. There are variations within each breed, so selection criteria are necessary to select the individuals to be included on the project. Accordingly, studies are running parallel under the umbrella of the project, e.g., to evaluate possible introgression of wild aurochs into the European cattle population. Furthermore, the food choice and behaviour of the used breeds are examined.[3]
Members of the project hope that the cattle will one day be able to move freely in wild herds in European nature areas just as red deer, wild boar, and wolves do.[4][5]
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Maronesa cow in Keent
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Young Sayaguesa bull
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Maremmana x Highland (cow)
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Sayaguesa cross cow
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Podolica cow
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Sayaguesa cow
Locations
- Netherlands: In Nature reserve Keent (Oss), Kempen~Broek (Weert), Herperduin-Maashorst (Oss/Uden), Kraaijenbergse Plassen (Cuijk), De Maurik (Mill), and Geuzenbos (Rotterdam Harbour).[6][7]
- Portugal: Since 2013 in Faia Brava.[7][8]
- Spain: Since 2013 in Campanarios de Azaba.[7][8]
- Croatia: Since 2014 in the Lika plains at the foot of the Velebit Mountains.[7][9]
- Czech Republic: Since 2015 in Milovice Nature Reserve[10] and since 2018 in Modrá.
- Romania: Since 2015 in Sfântu Gheorghe (Danube Delta).[7][11]
Incident
In 2014 a mountaineer was killed on the Velebit mountain by a Sayaguesa bull that was part of the project, bull was later euthanized.[12] [13]
See also
References
- ^ Rokosz, Mieczyslaw (1995). "History of the Aurochs (Bos Taurus Primigenius) in Poland" (PDF). Animal Genetics Resources Information. 16. Food and Agriculture Organization: 5–12. doi:10.1017/s1014233900004582.
- ^ Cis Van Vuure (2005). Retracing the Aurochs: History, Morphology & Ecology of an Extinct Wild Ox. Pensoft Pub. ISBN 954-642-235-5.
- ^ "The Aurochs is coming back to European forests and grasslands | European WILDLIFE". Eurowildlife.org. 13 April 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "Website ark - Oerrund keert terug" (in Dutch). Ark.eu. 2011-11-22. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ "Uitgestorven oerrund komt terug naar Limburg" (in Dutch). Gva.be. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
- ^ Stichting Taurus: “Terreinen.” Retrieved 1 September 2016. (in Dutch)
- ^ a b c d e The Tauros Programme: “Locations. Where to meet the Tauros.” Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ a b Rewilding Europe: “Western Iberia. Achievements to date.” Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ Rewilding Europe: “Velebit. Achievements to date.” Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "První stádo praturů ve střední a východní Evropě se zabydluje v Milovicích" (in Czech). Česká krajina. 13 October 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ Rewilding Europe: “Danube Delta. Achievements to date.” Retrieved 1 September 2016.
- ^ "Jutarnji list - BIZARNA TRAGEDIJA Prošao cijeli svijet, a ubio ga bik na planini koju je najviše volio". 12 December 2014.
- ^ "Eutanazirali bika koji je na Velebitu usmrtio planinara".
External links
