Re-created aurochs

Bred-back aurochs are used as grazing animals in landscape conservation projects. They keep the grass low and the landscapes open, helping to maintain nationally important countryside or, where required, restore land to a time when aurochs, wild horses and European bison roamed in Central Europe.

The aurochs, also known as ure or urus, is an extinct species of wild cattle that was once widespread in Asia and Europe. It was one of the largest bovids with a height of up to 1.8 meter and weighing over 1 tonne. The aurochs was fi rst domesticated around 6,500 years ago in the Middle East. Many of today’s domestic cattle species are descendants of the aurochs.

The aurochs became extinct in the early 17th century due to overhunting and loss of natural habitat.