The wild, extinct supercow returning to Europe

Photos: Can auroch substitute save European ecosystems?
Auroch around the clock – Conservationists and scientists are aiming to produce an animal that will be a "near 100% substitute" of the ancient auroch, one of the earliest cow species, which became extinct in 1627.
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Photos: Can auroch substitute save European ecosystems?
Tauros programme – Dutch ecologist Ronald Goderie launched the Tauros programme in 2008, using a technique known as back-breeding to produce an animal similar to the auroch, which would be named 'Tauros.'
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Photos: Can auroch substitute save European ecosystems?
Dream team – The group assembled breeds with genetics most similar to the auroch, and bred them together for a closer match.
These included the Maronesa cow of Portugal.
These included the Maronesa cow of Portugal.
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Photos: Can auroch substitute save European ecosystems?
Longhorn – The Maremmana cow of Italy was also included.
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Photos: Can auroch substitute save European ecosystems?
Poster boy – 'Manolo Uno' was one of the earliest products of the back-breeding programme.
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Photos: Can auroch substitute save European ecosystems?
New breed – A second generation Tauros at a breeding site in the Netherlands. Goderie expects the project will require seven generations for an acceptable outcome, which could be achieved by 2025.
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