Stichting Taurus is a private Dutch organization that uses feral cattle and horses in nature management and natural grazing schemes. In our choice for certain cattle and horse breeds, we want to use the hardiest breeds and the ones which best serve their ecological role: that means the most authentic ones. During our twenty years of experience, we have learned that none of the current cattle breeds is the optimal grazer to be used in wilderness areas.
In the near future European nature will be more and more interconnected in an Ecological network. The realization of such a network is one of the aims of the 'Conference on wild area restoration' in Brussels. If the 'Natural heart of Europe' can indeed be rebuild, wild herbivores in the (near?) future will be free to wander in wilderness areas and even across borders between countries. A rebuild natural heart of Europe needs its key role players. The Aurochs once was one of them: a real icon for Europe. We think there is room once again for such an icon. We call it the TaurOs, but in the end the species should be indistinguishable from the former Aurochs. Now is the time to make a choice for a cattle breed that once again can roam around the European wilderness. The knowledge is there. If we make that choice, we can avoid the situation that in the future the 'wild heart' is populated by an uncontrolled mix of sub-optimal agricultural cattle breeds.
The best choice for European wild nature would undoubtedly be the Aurochs. The animal has survived for more than 250.000 years in Europe. In ecological terms it only recently (in 1627) died out, because of habitat loss and overhunting. The Aurochs was an icon for Europe. The myth of the Greek god Zeus in the form of an aurochs bull is at the base of Europe.
Stichting Taurus gives the rebuilding of the Aurochs a serious try. Our approach differs from former and current initiatives because of our scientific approach.
In the near future European nature will be more and more interconnected in an Ecological network. The realization of such a network is one of the aims of the 'Conference on wild area restoration' in Brussels. If the 'Natural heart of Europe' can indeed be rebuild, wild herbivores in the (near?) future will be free to wander in wilderness areas and even across borders between countries. A rebuild natural heart of Europe needs its key role players. The Aurochs once was one of them: a real icon for Europe. We think there is room once again for such an icon. We call it the TaurOs, but in the end the species should be indistinguishable from the former Aurochs. Now is the time to make a choice for a cattle breed that once again can roam around the European wilderness. The knowledge is there. If we make that choice, we can avoid the situation that in the future the 'wild heart' is populated by an uncontrolled mix of sub-optimal agricultural cattle breeds.
The best choice for European wild nature would undoubtedly be the Aurochs. The animal has survived for more than 250.000 years in Europe. In ecological terms it only recently (in 1627) died out, because of habitat loss and overhunting. The Aurochs was an icon for Europe. The myth of the Greek god Zeus in the form of an aurochs bull is at the base of Europe.
Scientific approach with DNA-technology
Stichting Taurus gives the rebuilding of the Aurochs a serious try. Our approach differs from former and current initiatives because of our scientific approach.
Our project has a broad scientific foundation with a multidisciplinary angle. The project includes the following disciplines: geneticists, ecologists, molecular biologists, archaeologists, archaeozoologists, historians, aurochs experts, cattle experts and European cattle breeding organizations.
Stichting Taurus is in the lead. However we work together with a number of European scientific institutes and Universities. One of our Dutch partners in this project is Stichting Ark. They all work together towards this common goal: to create the Aurochs as the most optimal bovine to be used in European wilderness.
The actual breeding program started in 2009 and the first results look very promising. The international media responded in a positive way and we have featured in for instance Time Magazine, National Geographic magazine and in Spanish, Italian, Belgian and Dutch national papers.
We have started the project without external funding. However to speed things up and extend the scale of the project, external funding is necessary.
If you want to know more about the project or you would like to cooperate in our effort, please contact:
Ronald Goderie/Henri Kerkdijk
Stichting Taurus
Postbus 1117
6501 BC Nijmegen
www.stichtingtaurus.nl
www.taurosproject.com
info@stichtingtaurus.nl or megaherbivore@gmail.com
Organization
Stichting Taurus is in the lead. However we work together with a number of European scientific institutes and Universities. One of our Dutch partners in this project is Stichting Ark. They all work together towards this common goal: to create the Aurochs as the most optimal bovine to be used in European wilderness.
The actual breeding program started in 2009 and the first results look very promising. The international media responded in a positive way and we have featured in for instance Time Magazine, National Geographic magazine and in Spanish, Italian, Belgian and Dutch national papers.
Funding
We have started the project without external funding. However to speed things up and extend the scale of the project, external funding is necessary.
Contact
If you want to know more about the project or you would like to cooperate in our effort, please contact:
Ronald Goderie/Henri Kerkdijk
Stichting Taurus
Postbus 1117
6501 BC Nijmegen
www.stichtingtaurus.nl
www.taurosproject.com
info@stichtingtaurus.nl or megaherbivore@gmail.com