Trees for Life Launches Project to Introduce Ancient Wild Cattle to Scotland
Thursday 10 October, 2024 – Trees for Life, a rewilding charity, has announced a groundbreaking project that could potentially reintroduce the aurochs, the wild ancestor of all domestic cattle, to the UK. This project will see the introduction of a herd of up to 15 tauros, a breed of huge wild cattle that have been bred to resemble the extinct aurochs, to the Dundreggan estate near Loch Ness in 2026.
According to Steve Micklewright, Chief Executive of Trees for Life, “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. Our Tauros Project is about looking forwards while learning from the past as we restore nature-rich landscapes that support wildlife and people, and are resilient to future environmental challenges.”
The aurochs, once a keystone species in Europe, played a vital role in shaping landscapes and boosting biodiversity. However, these mega-herbivores became globally extinct due to habitat loss and hunting, with the last aurochs dying in Poland in 1627. But their DNA has survived in a number of ancient original cattle breeds, which have been used to “back-breed” the tauros to genetically and physically resemble the aurochs as closely as possible.
Tauros have already been successfully introduced in several European countries, including The Netherlands, Czechia, Croatia, Spain, and Portugal. These modern-day successors to the aurochs have been shown to create exceptionally rich habitats for wildlife due to their size and behavior. The herds of tauros move across landscapes in social groups, naturally grazing some areas while leaving others untouched, which creates a mosaic of habitats that benefits a wide range of plants and animals and helps soak up carbon dioxide.
One of the most significant impacts of the tauros is the creation of “bullpits” – bowls in the earth carved out by rutting bulls. These bullpits form micro-habitats that support various species and allow pioneer plant species to establish. Additionally, tauros dung helps ensure healthy soils and supports invertebrates, which in turn are eaten by birds, small mammals, and reptiles. Seeds are also dispersed via the cattle’s fur.
While no large animal is entirely risk-free, people can coexist safely with tauros given appropriate precautions, public education about respecting their space, and good herd-management. Tauros are known to be placid, especially towards people, and have been bred from cattle breeds that are not unnaturally aggressive. As a cross-breed of cattle, tauros can be legally imported to Britain and will be treated as farm animals but live as wild a life as possible.
The release of the herd will follow a year of project development, including research, detailed habitat assessments, and securing full funding. 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. Signage and safety protocols will allow people to encounter them in a managed way.
For more information about the project, visit treesforlife.org.uk/tauros.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.