Do these people not read Mark Wadsworth and others
Giant Cattle To Be Bred Back From Extinction
How giant is that then?
Italian scientists are hoping to use genetic expertise and selective breeding of modern-day wild cattle to recreate the fearsome beasts which weighed around 2,200lb and stood 6.5 feet at the shoulder.
That doesn’t seem too bad apart from the ‘fearsome’ bit. But that’s possibly an exaggeration for our risk adverse times.
I wonder what Julius Caesar had to say about them
"...those animals which are called uri. These are a little below the elephant in size, and of the appearance, colour, and shape of a bull. Their strength and speed are extraordinary; they spare neither man nor wild beast which they have espied. These the Germans take with much pains in pits and kill them. The young men harden themselves with this exercise, and practice themselves in this sort of hunting, and those who have slain the greatest number of them, having produced the horns in public, to serve as evidence, receive great praise. But not even when taken very young can they be rendered familiar to men and tamed.”
Did you get all that? if not let me ‘splain…….., No, there is too much, let me sum up.
1. Slightly smaller than an elephant
2. Very strong and fast
3. Merciless killers of man and beast.
4. Unable to be domesticated.
5. Permanently grumpy
And Julius pretty much knew what he was talking about (Although his choice of friends was suspect)
So what does a modern day expert have to say. Step forward Dr Claire Barbour of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
"Even the wild cattle we have today are very hard to handle and an auroch would be even more difficult. Aurochs were significantly larger than any cattle in existence and they would be potentially dangerous.
"There would be some serious management issues – to look after their teeth and feet, for instance, you might have to sedate them with dart guns. “
I feel a trip to Italy coming on to beat a couple of scientists around the head and neck with a leather bound copy of ‘The Gallic Wars’ whilst screaming.
“Are you mad? are you fucking mad?”
.
10 comments:
They are mad.
I have linked, I think the public has A Right To Know.
Although I personally do not qualify under points 1 and 3, I am sure that I do personally qualify under points 2, 4 and 5. Particularly according to Mrs Lola on points 4 and 5.
Should I be worried?
Think of the steaks, though?
I think even the steaks would leap off the plate and bitch slap you across the face.
That's assuming you managed to kill the thing with the first shot, as anything else would just piss it off more.
No, the reintroduction of the aurochs is on sound ecological principles. They will just need to genetically recreate cave bears and sabre-tooth tigers to prey on the aurochs. Then of course they will need to bring back velociraptors to keep down the sabre-tooths, and T-rex to keep down the velociraptors.
There you see, all under control. What could possibly go wro-
PC of all cats know when foul fowl deeds are afoot. They want to bring back wolves. What these fools do not realise is that the great joy of wandering around the British countryside is that you know your foundling is of a size that rapine wildlife cannot seize. Our ancient folk did us a favour by killing all the megafauna. I'll bet these "scientists" live in gated communities and we are to be their next experiment.
However if Wimpey is reading I want one in a bun. NOW!!!!!
since half a dozen Wood Ants can ruin a picnic, perhaps enormous, savage bulls won't be as bad.
I can see a conspiracy theory emerging.
The Italians are recreated giant fascist cows and there are already Giant nazi cows on the loose in Britain.
Will the Americans be lend-leasing us their bison in a few year's time to defend our shores?
@ Alex
I think you may be right, I remember a documentary I saw on Channel Four.
About some old chap who looked a bit like Father Chirstmas, he tried to set up a theme park with cloned dinosaurs, it didn't end well as I recall.
It ended pretty well for the dinosaurs, I seem to recall... ;)
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