On Thursday 10 October, 2024, Trees for Life announced the launch of a groundbreaking project that could possibly reintroduce the aurochs, the wild ancestor of all domestic cattle, to the UK after its extinction four centuries ago. The rewilding charity aims to introduce a herd of up to 15 tauros, a breed of huge wild cattle bred to resemble the ancient aurochs, to its 4,000-hectare Dundreggan estate near Loch Ness in 2026.
The tauros, with their muscular build and long horns, once played a vital role in shaping landscapes and boosting biodiversity across Europe, including Scotland. The reintroduction of these animals is part of Trees for Life’s efforts to restore nature-rich landscapes that support wildlife and people and are resilient to future environmental challenges. This project also aims to provide opportunities for scientific research, education, and eco-tourism.
Steve Micklewright, Chief Executive of Trees for Life, expressed his excitement for the project, stating, “Introducing the aurochs-like tauros to the Highlands four centuries after their wild ancestors were driven to extinction will refill a vital but empty ecological niche – allowing us to study how these remarkable wild cattle can be a powerful ally for tackling the nature and climate emergencies.”
Aurochs once roamed much of Europe as a keystone species, ensuring a rich mosaic of habitats including grasslands, forest, and wetlands. They are even depicted in petroglyphs of the Côa Valley dating back 30,000 years. However, the last aurochs in Britain died around 1300 BC, and they became globally extinct in 1627 due to habitat loss and hunting. Fortunately, aurochs DNA has survived in a few ancient original cattle breeds.
The tauros, which have been ‘back-bred’ to genetically replicate, resemble, and behave like the aurochs, have been bred in the Netherlands since the early 2000s. These modern-day successors to the aurochs have been found to create rich habitats for wildlife through their size and behaviour. They are known to be bigger and more active than other cattle, interacting with their environment in a dramatic way that benefits a wide range of plants and animals.
One of the ecological game-changers brought about by the tauros is the creation of ‘bullpits’ – bowls in the earth carved out by rutting bulls using their horns and hooves. These pits form micro-habitats that support invertebrates, small mammals, and birds and allow pioneer plant species to establish. Tauros also play a role in ensuring healthy soils through their dung, which supports invertebrates that are essential food sources for other animals.
While there are already several hundred tauros in mainland Europe, the reintroduction of this breed to the UK will be the first of its kind. While no large animal is entirely risk-free, Trees for Life assures that appropriate precautions, public education, and good herd-management will allow people to coexist safely with the tauros. These animals are known to be placid, especially towards people, and have been bred from cattle breeds that are not unnaturally aggressive.
The five-year project will strictly adhere to the legal and animal welfare requirements of keeping cattle. The tauros will be treated as farm animals but live as wild a life as possible. The release will also follow a year of project development, including research, detailed habitat assessments, and securing full funding.
For more information on the Tauros Project, visit treesforlife.org.uk/tauros. This news release was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/.
