From Geoffrey Cox, Rotorua, New Zealand
Sandrine Ceurstemont mentions plans to revive the extinct aurochs, a large ancestor of domestic cattle (25 February, p 37).
When I was a child, back in the 1960s, I subscribed to a magazine called Animal Life. In its May 1963 issue, I read (p 13) that German zoologists had, by selectively breeding existing cattle, succeeded “after many years” in . There were photos of a cow and bull.
The zoologists were Lutz Heck, , and his brother Heinz, . The unique features of the resurrected aurochs apparently included improved resistance to disease, especially foot and mouth, and a “wilder” disposition.
After this success the brothers turned their attention to the extinct tarpan horse, and, according to the article, had similar success.
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I have since read of other scientists trying to do the same from time to time – most recently the Dutch team mentioned. Shouldn't we be awash with aurochs lookalikes?
