Aurochs

The aurochs, Bos primigenius is an extinct large mammal (Mammalia) of the order Artiodactyla, predecessor of today's cattle. It inhabited Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor and the Middle East. The last specimen died in Poland in 1627. The oldest aurochs remains have been dated to about 2 million years ago, in India. A herbivorous mammal living in small flocks known for its power and aggression. The processes of the past few thousand years of taming have led to great differences between the aurochs and the domestic cattle, which are different races of the same species. The most noticeable is the size reduction (about 2 times) and the quenching of natural aggressiveness. Nowadays, several reintroduction projects are underway, by selecting and preserving genes from the most primitive bovine breeds. Despite significant progress, it is still early to say that success has been achieved. The animals produced are still significantly smaller than their predecessors.