Aurochs, Project Tauros

First off, what do you think of when you hear the word aurochs?  To me, the word resembles a big, beastly creature of tremendous strength and power, which, in fact, the aurochs is.  An aurochs is a humongous extinct horned herbivore, SIX FEET tall standing normally, and the biggest and most efficient grazer in the forest.  The aurochs was known for roaming in herds across the landscape in terrains from desert scrubland to colder forests, but sadly was hunted to extinction in 1627, leaving their main food (the beech tree), free to grow.   Among other disadvantages, beech trees, without a browsing predator, have in some places clogged the forest with overgrowth! ​

One group of scientists, called project Tauros, is trying to bring back the aurochs.  They are trying to create a living replica of an aurochs by mixing genes from aurochs teeth and cattle relatives.  The aurochs was a creature of tremendous strength and size.  As is shown by the over growth of the beech tree upon the aurochs extinction, the loss of the aurochs is another example of the fact that every plant and animal in the environment, from beetles to bears, depends on each other and needs to be saved in order for a healthy ecosystem to thrive.  My hope is that project Tauros will work and enable more organizations to help bring back other extinct animals. 

Sources: National Geographic July 2010, Project Tauros