Wild bull (wild cows) in nature. Where does a wild bull live and what does it look like? A large bull living in India

Evolution is a mechanism that nature has come up with. Thousands of species of different animals appeared, with hundreds of differences, but similar to each other. The family of wild real bulls and wild cows also includes many subspecies of wild bulls.

Families of bulls live in all corners the globe: both in the snowy expanses of Tibet and in the desert of Africa. Why is the fate of these animals considered tragic? What are the features?

Wild bulls: what descendants of these ancient animals exist in nature?

The sad fate of the horned giant

In the vastness of Europe there was a wild bull - tour. This beast was beautiful and weighed almost a whole ton. Wild bull with huge horns made everyone tremble with fear, except the man. Thanks to the latter this species not preserved.

Tur was an excellent source of meat and skins, which is why it was hunted. The beast is slow, and every hunter could kill him. The memory of this species has been preserved, because it is the ancestor of all modern bulls.

Gallery: wild bulls (25 photos)

Bison - a relative of the tour, Belovezhskaya bull, bison of North America

Bison is the closest relative of the aurochs. A huge animal, at the withers about two meters. Its weight is just over a ton, which is why it is one of the largest representatives of their species. The bison has a dark brown coat color, it warms him in any cold, even in severe frosts.

Previously, this animal lived almost throughout Europe, Russia and the Caucasus. But the animal, as with the tour, was attacked by people. Now these creatures live in reserves, under supervision and protection.

The bison is also a relative of the tour, but already overseas. This wild forest bull lives in North America and is similar in appearance to the bison. Only the wool is longer, reaches half a meter in length. Front massive body part and the rear is much weaker. The chest, part of the back and head are often covered with matted hair.

Bison are horned, but the horns are often differently pronounced. The animals have a short tail with a tassel. There are forest and steppe bison. The steppe is smaller than the forest, has much more wool, and the horns are hidden under the bangs.

North American loves semi-desert plains, spacious pastures, forest glades, well lit by the sun. The mass of the male is more than a ton, females are slightly smaller.

This species has also been hunted. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the population numbered about 60 million individuals, and a century later, the number fell to the mark of one thousand. Why did it happen? The reason is migrants.

The colonialists began to kill bulls in order to feed the workers who build railway. Farther bison hunting turned into fun, not food.

Bison have been taken under protection and provide conditions for population growth.

In the mountains of Tibet

The snowy mountains of Tibet have become the home of an amazing animal - the yak.

This is a bull with huge horns, about 80 cm long.
Brown thick wool protects it from severe frost and snowfall.
With the help of muscular legs, he moves from one to the second cliff without any problems.

Yak can be found in other regions Central Asia, for example, in Altai or Kyrgyzstan. But only in Tibet do animals feel at home, because human contact minimized.

Heat lovers: buffalo and gaur bull

The smallest. The huge animals described above have relatives among dwarfs. These are - anoa. The growth of this creature does not exceed one meter, and the weight is within two hundred kilograms. Horns are the smallest part of their body. They reach no more than forty centimeters in length.

Anoa live in Indonesia, on the island of Sulawesi and are under the protection of the organization for the protection of animal rights.

Indian bull

Zebu lives in India. This is an independent subspecies, not associated with the tour. This bull from India is used on the farm - it performs the function of transport and assistant to the landowner. In Madagascar, zebu is also held in high esteem. There this Indian bull is considered sacred.

In some places, the wild bull of India is crossed with a domestic cow, resulting in hybrids that give milk and with great strength. Average weight animal about 800 kg, the body is smooth, there is a “hump” and a chest fold. Zebu are willingly kept by nature reserves and zoos.

Attention, only TODAY!

Evolution is an amazing mechanism invented by nature. Thanks to her, thousands of species of animals were born, very similar to each other, but at the same time having hundreds of differences. The wild bull is also no exception, because its family includes many subspecies.

These proud animals live in almost all corners. Representatives of wild bulls can be found in the desert savannahs of Africa, and in the snowy expanses of Tibet. What do we know about these animals? Why are they special? And why is their fate considered one of the most tragic on the planet?

The sad fate of the horned giant

Once upon a time in the vastness of modern Europe there was a wild bull tour. It was a majestic beast, weighing just under a ton. His horns were made to tremble in fear of numerous enemies, with the exception of man. Indeed, it is thanks to the latter that this type of wild bulls has not survived to our times.

The wild bull tour was a good source of meat and skin, because of this, it was on him. And given the slowness of the beast, even the weakest hunter could kill him. According to historical data, the last tour died in 1627. And yet the memory of him has not disappeared, because it is this mighty handsome man who is the ancestor of almost all known species bulls, including domestic ones.

Bison is the closest relative of the aurochs

One of the most tour is bison. This is a large animal, reaching almost 2 m at the withers. At the same time, the weight of the giant sometimes exceeds the limit of one ton, which makes it one of the largest representatives of its species. The bison has a dark brown coat, which is able to warm it in severe frosts.

Previously, this wild bull lived throughout the territory of modern Europe, Russia, and also in the Caucasus. But, as in the case with often attacked by people. This led to the fact that the number of bison declined sharply, and at the beginning of the 20th century they found themselves on the verge of complete extinction.

They were saved from oblivion by environmental organizations that undertook to restore the bison population. They placed these animals in reserves, where they are still under close supervision and protection.

Wild bulls of North America

Another relative of the tour, but this time overseas, is the bison. This wild forest bull lives in North America and its appearance strongly resembles a bison. True, the hair of a bison is much longer than that of its relative, and sometimes reaches 50 cm in length.

And yet, as in the case of the aurochs, this wild bull was also subjected to tyranny by man. So, if in early XIX centuries, their population numbered more than 60 million heads, then a century later this number fell to the mark of 1 thousand. What was the reason for this? The answer is simple - immigrants.

The new colonialists began to kill animals in order to feed the workers who built the railroad tracks. A little later, buffalo hunting began to look more like fun than foraging. There were even actions, according to which, those who bought train tickets could shoot from the windows at poor animals.

Fortunately, over time, people came to their senses, at least some of them. The bison were taken under guard and provided them with everything the necessary conditions for population growth. Now this wild bull is safe, but still environmentalists continue to closely monitor their numbers.

In the cold mountains of Tibet

The snow-capped mountains of Tibet have served as a haven for one of the most amazing animals - the yak. This is a wild bull with huge horns that reach 80 cm in length. thick brown wool protects it from frost and snowfalls. And muscular legs allow you to move from one cliff to another without any problems.

And although the yak can be found in other regions of Central Asia, such as Altai and Kyrgyzstan, it is only in Tibet that these animals feel at home. After all, here their contact with a person is minimized, which means that nothing threatens their freedom.

Hot country lovers: gaur and buffalo

On the territory of India lives gaur - a wild bull, striking in its size. Cases have been recorded when adults reached a weight of 1.3-1.4 tons. The height of an adult animal ranges from 1.8-2.2 m at the withers. The gaur's horns are not too large, at least smaller than those of relatives. The coat has a dark brown color, and with age it darkens and becomes almost black.

Another hot climate lover is the buffalo. This animal lives in where the temperature sometimes exceeds the threshold of 40 degrees in the shade. This animal has strong horns, almost fused at the bottom.

And although this wild bull has an impressive size, it still has enemies among the local inhabitants. Lions and crocodiles often prey on them, and yet the population of these animals is out of danger.

The smallest wild bull

Among wild bulls there are also dwarfs. For example, anoa. This tiny creature has a height of 0.8-1 m. At the same time, its weight ranges from 150-300 kilograms. The smallest part of the body is the horns. In Anoa, they reach only 30-40 cm in length.

These bulls live on what in Indonesia. Since these animals are found only here, they are under protection. World Organization for the protection of animal rights.

The biggest wild bull in the world November 2nd, 2013

As a rule, herbivorous megafauna is presented as a group consisting of elephants, rhinos and giraffes. However, one of the most specific representatives of the megafauna is the Indian bull. Standing under 3 meters (10 feet), the gaur is truly a gigantic animal, and the largest wild cow in the world. This massive creature with truly huge horns can burst through the forests and fields of India, while sometimes destroying gardens.

This species is critically endangered, although it survives most threats and weighs up to 1,600 kg (3,500 lb). Among the megafauna that can cut their way through tropical vegetation, only elephants, rhinos or giraffes can be bigger and taller. The gaur is more docile than the African buffalo, but there are occasional human casualties. There was a case when a tiger attacked a gaura. Gaur literally tore the tiger in half.

Let's find out more about them...

Few wild bulls can compare with the gaur in beauty, strength and size. This is perhaps the largest bull in the world, and therefore the largest representative of the bovid family, both today and in the past. historical times.The 68 cm long gaura skull is larger than any giant bison skull. It is not only the largest and strongest, but also the most beautiful of the bulls.

Gaur is sometimes referred to as the Asiatic bison, and indeed, in his build, he is a bit like his American relative. Gaura is distinguished from other bulls by a very powerful physique, relief muscles and an impressive appearance.

If the appearance of an African buffalo can symbolize indomitable power, then the gaur personifies calm confidence and strength. The height at the withers of old males reaches 213 cm, weight -800-1000 kg. Thick and massive horns from the base are bent somewhat down and back, and then up and slightly inward. Their length in males reaches 100-115 spruce, and the distance between the ends is 120 cm. The forehead is wide, flat. Gaura females are much smaller, their horns are shorter and thinner. The hairline is dense, short, adjacent to the body, the color is brilliant black, less often dark brown, on the legs of the animals there are white “stockings”. Although the range of the gaur covers a vast territory, including India, Nepal, Burma, Assam and the peninsulas of Indochina and Malacca, the number of this bull is small. In fact, it survived only in national parks and reserves. Not only hunters are to blame for this, but also frequent epizootics of foot-and-mouth disease, plague and other diseases.

True, a strict ban on hunting throughout the entire territory and energetic quarantine supervision seem to have marked a certain turning point in the position of the gaur, and its numbers in last years increased somewhat. Gaur inhabits woodlands, preferring mountain forests up to 2000 m above sea level. However, he avoids solid forests with dense undergrowth and keeps in lighted areas near glades. However, gaura can also be found in the bamboo jungle, as well as on grassy plains with shrubs. He strongly avoids cultivated lands. The favorite food of the gaur is fresh grass, young bamboo shoots, and shrub shoots. He needs regular watering and bathing, but, unlike buffaloes, he does not take mud baths. Gauras graze early in the morning and before sunset, and sleep at night and at noon. Gauras are kept in small groups, which usually include 1-2 adult bulls, 2-3 young bulls, 5-10 cows with calves and teenagers. Along with this, groups consisting only of young bulls are not uncommon. Adult strong males often leave the herd and lead the life of hermits.

In the herd of gaurs, a certain order is always observed. Calves usually keep together, and the whole " Kindergarten"is under the vigilant protection of mothers. The leader of the herd is more often an old cow, which, when the herd runs away, is in the head or, conversely, in the rearguard. Old bulls, as observations have shown, do not participate in the defense and do not even respond to the alarm signal, which sounds like a shrill snort. Hearing such a snort, the rest of the herd members freeze, raising their heads, and if the source of the alarm is established, the nearest animal emits a rumbling moo, according to which the herd assumes battle order. The gaur's method of attack is exceptionally interesting. Unlike other bulls, he attacks not with his forehead, but sideways, and lowers his head low and crouches somewhat on his hind legs, striking with one horn to the side. It is noticed that in old bulls one of the horns is noticeably more worn than the other. Zoologist J. Schaller believes that this style of attack developed from the usual posture of imposing and menacing for gaurs, when the animal demonstrates its huge silhouette in the most impressive foreshortening.

By the way, gaur fights, as a rule, do not go beyond demonstrations. The rutting period of the Gaurs begins in November and ends in March - April. Single males at this time join the herds, and fights are not uncommon between them. The peculiar invocative roar of the gaura during the rut is similar to the roar of stag deer and can be heard in the evening or at night at a distance of more than one and a half kilometers. Pregnancy lasts 270-280 days, calving occurs more often in August - September. At the time of calving, the cow is removed from the herd and in the first days is extremely cautious and aggressive. Usually she brings one calf, rarely twins. The lactation period ends at the ninth month of the calf's life. Gaurs willingly unite in herds with sambars and other ungulates.

They are almost not afraid of tigers, although tigers occasionally attack young animals. The special friendship of gaurs with wild chickens is described by the zoologist Olivier, who in 1955 managed to observe how a young rooster daily cleaned the festering, damaged horns of a female gaur for two weeks. Despite the pain of this operation, the cow, at the sight of a rooster, laid her head on the ground and turned the horn towards the "nurse". Gayal is nothing but a domesticated gaur. But as a result of domestication, the gayal has changed a lot: it is much smaller, lighter and weaker than the gaur, its muzzle is shorter, the forehead is wider, the horns are relatively short, very thick, straight, conical. Guyale is more phlegmatic and calmer than gaur. At the same time, gayals are not kept in the same way as domestic cows in Europe.

They always graze in complete freedom, and when you need to catch a gayal, they lure him with a piece of rock salt or tie a cow in the forest. Gayal is used for meat, in some places it is used as a draft force, and among some peoples of South Asia it serves as a kind of money or is used as a sacrificial animal. Gayala cows often mate with wild gaurs.

The sad fate of the horned giant

The wild bull tour was a good source of meat and skin, because of this, it was on him. And given the slowness of the beast, even the weakest hunter could kill him. According to historical data, the last tour died in 1627. And yet, the memory of him has not disappeared, because it is this mighty handsome man who is the ancestor of almost all known types of bulls, including domestic ones.

Bison is the closest relative of the aurochs

Wild bulls of North America

And yet, as in the case of the aurochs, this wild bull was also subjected to tyranny by man. So, if at the beginning of the 19th century their population numbered more than 60 million heads, then a century later this number fell to the mark of 1 thousand. What was the reason for this? The answer is simple - immigrants.

Fortunately, over time, people came to their senses, at least some of them. The bison were taken under protection and provided them with all the necessary conditions for the growth of the population. Now this wild bull is safe, but still environmentalists continue to closely monitor their numbers.

In the cold mountains of Tibet

The snow-capped mountains of Tibet have served as a haven for one of the most amazing animals - the yak. This is a wild bull with huge horns that reach 80 cm in length. Thick brown wool protects it from frost and snowfalls. And muscular legs allow you to move from one cliff to another without any problems.

Hot country lovers: gaur and buffalo

The smallest wild bull

These bulls live on what in Indonesia. Since these animals are found only here, they are protected by the World Organization for the Protection of Animal Rights.

Under the phrase "wild bull" several varieties of these beautiful undomesticated animals are combined. We will talk about the most interesting of them in today's publication.

Anoa

These small animals belonging to the bovid family are conventionally divided into two groups - mountain and plain. Both of them live in the forests of the island of Sulawesi. But the former inhabit the higher regions, while the latter live in the lowlands. Outwardly, they are very similar to each other. They can only be distinguished by their horns. In lowland anoas they are triangular, while in mountain ones they are round. The body length of this wild bull is about 170 centimeters with a height not exceeding 80 cm. The mass of adults varies from 150 to 300 kilograms. The entire almost hairless body of the anoa is painted black or brown.

The basis of the diet of these herbivores is fruits, ginger, aquatic plants, leaves and young trees. As for drinking, they calmly consume not only fresh, but also salty sea water. Anoa are very cautious and rarely move alone. Most often they can be seen in pairs, and sometimes they even gather in a few herds.

Gaur

This is the most major representatives kind of real bulls. They live in grassy plains and mountain forests. Most often they can be found in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, India and southern Vietnam. Gauras come out to the plains and forest edges only to feast on fresh grass. In all other cases, they stay away from open areas.

The height of an adult is 2.2 meters with a mass of about 1000-1200 kilograms. In addition to impressive dimensions, gauras have a properly folded, harmonious body. Oddly enough, but this huge wild bull is distinguished by a calm, balanced disposition. It has practically no natural enemies.

The body of the gaur is covered with dark brown hair. And the males have white “stockings” on their legs. The feeling of power is achieved not only due to the impressive appearance, but also due to the presence of massive long horns, each of which grows up to 90-115 centimeters. The basis of the diet of these animals is shrub shoots, bamboo seedlings and young grass. They are most active in the morning and evening hours.

Watussi

These ancient animals originated from the primitive aurochs. They inhabit savannas and open fields. Despite the fact that they historical homeland is Africa, they quickly spread around the world. The weight of an adult individual ranges from 400-750 kilograms. And the total length of the horns of a wild bull, pierced by numerous blood vessels, is about 2.4 meters.

These animals are unpretentious in everything related to food. Special structure digestive system allows watussi to consume even very coarse food, which has a low nutritional value. The stomach of these creatures is able to absorb nutrients from everything eaten. This wild bull leads a herd life and is distinguished by a developed instinct for protecting young animals. Settling down for the night, watussi fit into a circle, in the center of which all the calves are driven.

Yak

This unique animal is capable of climbing to dizzying heights. It never descends below two and a half kilometers above sea level. The higher the yak climbs, the better he feels. It is often referred to as the long-haired wild bull. It lives in Turkmenistan, Mongolia and Tibet.

Outwardly, the yak is very similar to several animals at once. It resembles a ram, a goat, a horse and a bison at the same time. For a fluffy tail and beautiful rounded shapes, it is often compared to a horse. Its muscular body strongly resembles the body of a bison, and a massive head with huge horns gives it a resemblance to a bull.

Yak hunting is a very dangerous activity. In addition to the fact that a person will have to master the skills of a climber, he must also try to kill a powerful animal with a single shot. A wounded wild bull in anger is able to destroy an unlucky hunter.

Despite the formidable nature of the yak, they managed to tame it. There are already large herds of these animals in Mongolia and Tibet. They are often used to transport heavy loads. One yak is capable of carrying a two-hundred-kilogram burden.

bison

This artiodactyl animal is on the verge of extinction, so it was listed in the Red Books of the countries in which it lives. The height of an adult wild forest bull is about 192 centimeters with a mass of 450-640 kilograms. The weight of individual individuals can reach 820 kg.

The whole life of bison is directly connected with the forest and relatively mild climate. He has an excellent sense of smell and hearing. They are able to detect the smell of a person from a distance of five hundred feet.

Bison lead a herd life, straying into groups of up to twenty individuals. The basis of their plant foods. They successfully winter in areas where the snow cover is up to fifty centimeters high. Bison have no natural enemies other than humans. And their life expectancy in the wild is about twenty-seven years.

Wild bull tour

In historical times, these animals could be found almost throughout Europe. They also lived in Asia Minor, North Africa and in the Caucasus. Their disappearance is associated with intensive deforestation, which began in the 9th-11th centuries. In addition, it was during this period that they were actively hunted. When the animals were on the verge of extinction, they were taken under the protection of the law. They lived in royal parks. But, unfortunately, this did not save them from extinction. The last tour on the planet was destroyed in 1627.

The growth of the extinct animal reached 180-200 centimeters at the withers with a mass of about 600-800 kilograms. However, in nature there were individuals weighing a whole ton. Outwardly, the tour gave the impression of a fairly light animal. He had a not too massive front part of the body, huge horns and high dry limbs. The body of the extinct bull was covered with short, smooth, dark hair.

Tours fed mainly on shoots, grass, leaves of shrubs and trees. They lived alone or in small groups, and for the winter united in numerous herds. These aggressive and powerful bulls easily dealt with any predators, so they had practically no natural enemies.

The meaning of the word BISON in the Big Modern Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language

A large animal of the bovid family with long soft hair; wild North American bull.

Large modern explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. 2012

North American bison

This is the most famous variety of wild animals of this species. Before European colonizers arrived in North America, more than 600 million wild bison roamed the open prairies of the continent. In a very short time, their number was reduced to 835 individuals. Thanks to environmental protection measures and the creation of protected areas, their number is gradually being restored. Their population has already reached about 30 thousand individuals. An adult healthy bison is very large in size.

The animal can reach approximately 2.5 m at the withers and exceed 3 m in length. There is a characteristic hump on the back. The head is elongated. She is very massive. The head, neck and part of the back are covered with thick woolly mane. Bulls can reach a weight of about 1500 kg. A healthy adult has virtually no natural enemies. Wolves that are found on the plains where these ungulates live prefer to attack young, sick or old individuals who have strayed from the herd in a pack. Such buffalo usually cannot offer violent resistance. The diet of these ungulates throughout the year may include;

forbs;
lichens;
young branches and foliage;
seaweed.

polar animal fox

This subspecies of a wild bull is an excellent swimmer, so it can overcome even major rivers during the migrations that animals carry out while searching for food. These creatures have very strong hooves, so they can dig their food even from under deep snow.

Catching wild bulls (video)

Majestic European bison

These are real bulls that trace their pedigree from the time when mammoths roamed the snowy plains. American varieties of such animals and bison have common roots. And now between these species there is much in common. At present, the number of these majestic creatures reaches only about 7 thousand heads. They live mainly in European reserves, including Belovezhskaya Pushcha. Here these large animals eat forbs and young shoots. The Belovezhskaya bull differs from its North American counterpart not only in its name, but also in some anatomical features.

These are real bulls that trace their pedigree from the time when mammoths roamed the snowy plains.

The body length of the animal can reach about 3 m, and the height is about 2 m. A bull usually weighs about 1 ton, and a cow - up to 800 kg. These animals have well-developed muscles. The head is relatively small. Bulls, as a rule, have large horns, rounded in the shape of a crescent. These creatures usually live in herds of up to 50 individuals. The dominant position in a strict hierarchy is occupied by a large male. Like many types of bulls living in wild nature, the creatures are perfectly adapted to the natural environment. They can withstand even severe frosts, overcome obstacles up to 2 m and swim across large rivers.

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Resurrection of the forest bull

Some large representatives of the bovid family are now completely extinct. For example, the last wild forest bull disappeared from the natural environment in 1967, although domesticated representatives of this species have survived quite successfully to this day. It is believed that the cause of the extinction of these animals was the massive deforestation and the emergence of new diseases. The wild forest bull has failed to adapt to the changing ecosystem.

The species began to disappear almost everywhere, even in protected areas created for its conservation.

They were real giant bulls. Their weight exceeded 1000 kg. The color of the males was black with a characteristic white stripe along the ridge. The height of an adult animal was about 180 cm at the withers. The cow was somewhat smaller. She had a brownish-brown coat color. This wild bull with huge horns easily made his way even through dense forest thickets. Animals were kept in small herds of 50 individuals. They could eat a wide variety of vegetation.

Currently, scientists from the Ostwarderspasse nature reserve, which is located in the Netherlands, have recreated a wild forest bull, called Heka. These animals outwardly very much resemble those ungulates that became extinct more than 4 centuries ago. The modern wild forest bull is only going through a period of adaptation. A whole herd of such animals has already been bred, but they are under the scrutiny of scientists. The modern wild forest bull is not yet fully accustomed to natural conditions but work on this is in progress. It is assumed that such animals will continue to live without human intervention.

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Indian zebu

These representatives of the bovid family are found exclusively in tropical and subtropical latitudes. The Indian bull zebu is in no way connected with tours and forms its own separate subspecies. Some individuals have been domesticated and are currently used not only to obtain high-quality milk and meat, but also as draft animals.

This wild bull of India often crosses with tamed buffaloes.

In some cases, wild individuals can lead herds of females from pastures if people do not pay enough attention to grazing and control the animals. The bulls of this breed are distinguished by great strength and nasty character. Their weight reaches approximately 600-800 kg. This forest bull from India has a smooth, short coat. The body and legs are usually light gray, while the neck and head are dark. There is a distinct hump on the back.

The ancestor of the domesticated cow is the wild bull tour, which, according to scientists, existed on the planet more than 7,000 years ago. This type of livestock began to actively spread in the household during the early Neolithic, following sheep, pigs and goats. Later, people began to breed other types of cattle. Initially, only the meat of wild cows and bulls was valued, but as agriculture developed, people began to use cattle as a draft force.

Description of the first ancestor of the modern cow

The first domesticated tours were incredibly hardy and productive. They had very long and massive horns.

Initially, a wild bull with huge horns served as a carrier of oversized cargo between the countries of Europe, Africa, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. The appearance of the wild ancestor of cattle had the following data:

a muscular animal reached a mass of 800 kg;
height could vary from 170 to 180 cm;
males had a characteristic black coloration with a narrow strip of white tint along the back;
calves and adult females had a brown coat color with a reddish tint.

The diet of ancient aurochs consisted of shoots, leaves of shrubs and trees, as well as a variety of forest grass. Animals preferred to gather in small groups or live alone, and only in winter period could gather in herds.

The last tour died in 1627.

North American bison

North America is home to the largest herbivorous species wild large cattle- North American bison. This animal reaches a height of 2 m and a length of 3 m.

The anterior part of the body is most massively expressed, while the posterior part is characterized by a poorly developed muscle mass. The head and part of the back of the animal are framed with felted wool. Bison have large horns, which are developed in each individual in their own way. Most often, the bison is characterized by a black color, but brown, gray or white representatives can be found.

North American bison are divided into steppe and forest bison. Steppe wild bulls are much smaller than forest bulls, have a thicker coat and horns covered with bangs.

North American individuals love space, so they choose forest plains and glades for existence, which transmit light as much as possible. Adult bison weigh over a ton. Female individuals, although they have massive dimensions, do not reach such a weight.

European bison

This type of cattle is difficult to distinguish from North American representatives, but, looking closely, you can see the characteristic key points their looks. The European bison is endowed with a well-defined head against the background of the body and a square figure with a brownish color.

The body length of the bison reaches 3 m, height - 2 m. The animal has a dark brown coat. Male individuals are distinguished by a pronounced mane.

The European bison is endowed with excellent hearing and scent, swims and jumps excellently. Its life span is 30 to 40 years.

In ancient times, in the meadows and pastures one could observe the Caucasian subspecies of European cattle, which was distinguished by a pronounced curly and thick coat.

Today, European reserves contain Bialowieza individuals, which are the only descendants of the ancient European bison. In nature, this subspecies is protected by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Yak - a wild bull with massive horns

This subspecies of cattle is difficult to study, as it prefers to live away from people. To date, yaks can only be found in highland Tibet, but there are very few of them left here. They prefer to stay in close-knit groups or settle in small families. Old individuals choose a solitary lifestyle.

The fierce and strong yak has a long and shaggy coat that completely covers its legs. Animals can have a different color, but individuals are more common brown or black with a grayish tint, with white markings on the head.

The main distinguishing feature of this type of cattle is a characteristic hump on the back.

Male wild bulls reach 2 m in height and 4 m in length. Female individuals have a length of 2.8 m, their height does not exceed 1.6 m. The horns of both sexes are very long (reach up to 95 cm). From the base of the growth, they are directed in opposite directions, as they become elongated, they smoothly bend and become cup-shaped. A yak can live 25 years.

Tamarau and Anoa

Tamarau belongs to the genus of Asian buffaloes. Endowed with small stature and short horns. In height, the animal reaches 106 cm, in length - 220 cm, while its weight can range from 180 to 300 kg. Color black to dark brown.

The tamarau is an endangered species of buffalo. In captivity, these animals cannot breed, so their numbers are noticeably reduced. They prefer a solitary lifestyle in forest areas, but cows and calves live together until the latter reach independence. Tamarau are under the strictest protection.

The anoa bull is considered the smallest representative of cattle. The weight of a male individual does not exceed 300 kg, female - 150 kg. The length of the body is not more than 160 cm, in height - 80 cm. These are hairless animals with a dark skin of brown or black color. Just like the tamarau, the anoa are endangered and protected by law. From 1079 to 1994, the Anoa population decreased by 90%.

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And if you had to meet with wild bulls and cows, tell us about it in the comments.

Kira Stoletova

Domestic cows are familiar to everyone, they are affectionate, obedient, give milk, etc. But a wild bull or a cow is a more exotic phenomenon, but meanwhile they are relatives of domesticated cattle. It is these wild species that will be discussed further.

progenitor tour

Let's start with the strongest representative of the bovids, which, unfortunately, is no longer on our planet. This tour is the ancestor of all modern cattle. In terms of endurance and productivity, no one can still compare with the tour.

It was called "wild forest bull". Tur lived in Europe, in North Africa, in the Caucasus, in Asia Minor. The last individuals died out in 1627 due to disease.

They lived in forest-steppes and forests, gathered in small herds or existed alone. Grass, shoots, etc. served as food for them.

Description

It was a huge animal, up to 180 cm tall and 800 kg in weight. The body of the males of the tour was covered with black wool, and there was a small stripe on the back. white color. The females, like the young, went brown.

Reason for disappearance

The reason why aurochs no longer live on earth and we see them only in pictures is man. Wild animals were constantly hunted. In addition, their home, forest thickets, were actively cut down as civilization developed.

Scientists do not abandon attempts to revive the lost species of majestic bulls, which, even in the absence of comfortable conditions accommodation and food could become a legend.

bison and bison

Buffalo

Bison is another wild bull, whose power and size surprise even in the photo. Its history goes back to the Stone Age. Outwardly, it is very similar to the bison, it is easy to confuse them.

The main characteristics of the bison's appearance are called a hump formed by a high and steep withers, and a low-set head with a very wide frontal area. The ends of his short horns are bent inward. Massiveness is given to it by dense vegetation on the front of the body (on the chin, neck, shoulders), knocked to shreds. The tail is short, decorated with a tassel.

Having a mass of up to 1.2 tons (for females - 700 kg), a body length of 2.5-3 m and a height of 1.9 m, bison is one of the largest of all ungulates on the planet.

Its coloration is black, gray or brown, with lighter coat on the shoulders, and the calves are usually very light, yellow, although occasionally light adults can be found.

bison lifestyle

Bison are characterized by measured behavior, non-aggressive outside the danger zone. If you need to save your life, they run at a speed of 50 km/h. Representatives of these wild animals swim, have excellent hearing and smell, but their eyesight is very poor.

Bison feed mainly at night. They eat grass.

Their habitat is North America(Canada, central states).

There are the following subspecies:

forest (live to the north, in the forest);
flat or steppe (live in the southern prairies).

Preservation

Today, they try to keep North American bison in protected areas, in zoos, since since the 19th century their numbers have declined sharply. Millions of livestock of their mighty ancestors became vulnerable to European colonizers. They were killed simply for fun or to deprive the local Indians of food. In 1889, only 835 copies remained.

They are listed in the Red Book, but due to the efforts of the authorities of Canada and the United States, today our planet has up to 30 thousand individuals of this species (not counting tamed half-breeds).

bison

Bison brothers, bison, live in Russia, the Caucasus, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Lithuania. In Europe, they are the largest mammals, as well as the last of all wild bulls inhabiting Europe.

The bison's head is more pronounced than that of the bison and somewhat smaller in size. The shape of the body is close to a square, the body is massive, and the tail is short. The color is brown, the hair becomes longer from the back of the head and on the spine.

These animals swim well, jump high, live up to 40 years.

There are Caucasian and Belovezhskaya bisons. The former died out at the beginning of the twentieth century, while the latter are under the auspices of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Because of the outstanding genetic qualities of bison and bison, they are trying to domesticate and use in breeding new breeds.

buffaloes

Another worthy representatives of wild bulls and cows are buffaloes, relatives of bison, yaks, etc.

There are two types of buffaloes:

Asian (tamarau, mountain anoa, anoa, Asian buffalo);
African.

Asiatic genus

An individual from the Asian genus is a wild bull with huge horns under 2 m long. His horns look back and resemble a crescent moon. The height of the buffalo is about 2 m, the length of the body is 3 m, and the weight is up to 900 kg.

There are also small specimens among them. This is tamarau. Their height is 106 cm, weight - no more than 300 kg, body length 220 cm. There are also anoas 80 cm high and weighing 300 kg, they do not have wool, they are brown or black, they nibble grass at night, hide from the scorching sun during the day, plunging into the mud.

By the will of man, the species is on the verge of extinction, although it is placed in protected areas. For example, tamarau do not give offspring in captivity. Most Asiatic buffalo are domesticated. They give milk. They live in Southern Europe, Africa, South Asia.

Capturing wild bulls with jeeps and a helicopter

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All breeds of cows. Over 300 breeds

African genus

The African buffalo is divided into subspecies: Cape, Sudanese, dwarf (red), mountain, Nile. As the name implies, he lives in Africa (mountains, savannas, forest). He likes to live near large sources of water and in fields with dense vegetation, but is able to feed himself on dried bushes.

The weight of Africans sometimes reaches 1200 kg, and the height is 1.6 m. The physique is stocky, the legs are low. The head is decorated with powerful horns, curved upwards. The length between the two ends of the horns is about 1 m. On the forehead of the males, they grow together, turning into a bulletproof helmet.

The color is black or dark brown, the hair is coarse, sparse.

Poor eyesight is compensated by excellent hearing and sense of smell. These are collective animals, ready to come to the rescue of their brother and snatch him from the clutches of a predatory beast.

Zebu, yak and gaur

Zebu

Zebu is a resident of hot regions (Africa, South America, Asia), but India is considered its homeland. The muscle-fat hump is his calling card.

Another feature is that this wild bull is not afraid of bloodsuckers, because grease with a specific aroma is released from the skin, and they are not afraid of high temperatures.

In India, this representative was tamed and used in agriculture for transportation, etc.

Yaks

It is not easy to study the yak, he eschews people, although some of the animals are domesticated, they bring milk, meat, and wool. He is comfortable in the wild. Being strong and ferocious, he can withstand the harshest conditions. On the this moment lives in Tibet.

Its height is about 2 m, body length is 4 m (females are smaller: under 1.6 m tall). Huge horns, 95 cm, adorn his head, diverge to the sides, then bend. A hump flaunts on the back. The coat is shaggy and very long, covering the limbs completely. The color is gray-black, brown, white spots on the muzzle.

Gaur

The Indian gaur is an example of a peaceful giant. With such impressive dimensions (height 2.2 m and above, weight 1000-1500 kg), he is not at all ferocious. Although wild gaur cows are much smaller in size, they are completely fearless. Gyaurs have strong long limbs and large horns growing perpendicular to the ground.

These animals are also called Indian bison, and tamed individuals are called gayals. Their coloration is dark brown, but the legs are light.

The largest number of bulls has been preserved in the dense thickets of the jungles of Indonesia and India.

Wild bull (wild cows) in nature. Where does a wild bull live and what does it look like? A large bull living in India

Wild bulls: what descendants of these ancient animals exist in nature?

The sad fate of the horned giant

Gallery: wild bulls (25 photos)

Bison - a relative of the tour, Belovezhskaya bull, bison of North America

In the mountains of Tibet

Heat lovers: buffalo and gaur bull

Indian bull

The sad fate of the horned giant

Bison is the closest relative of the aurochs

Wild bulls of North America

In the cold mountains of Tibet

Hot country lovers: gaur and buffalo

The smallest wild bull

The sad fate of the horned giant

Bison is the closest relative of the aurochs

Wild bulls of North America

In the cold mountains of Tibet

Hot country lovers: gaur and buffalo

The smallest wild bull

Anoa

Gaur

Watussi

Yak

bison

Wild bull tour

The meaning of the word BISON in the Big Modern Explanatory Dictionary of the Russian Language

See also interpretations, synonyms, meanings of the word and what is BISON in Russian in dictionaries, encyclopedias and reference books:

North American bison

Catching wild bulls (video)

Majestic European bison

Resurrection of the forest bull

Indian zebu

Description of the first ancestor of the modern cow

North American bison

European bison

Yak - a wild bull with massive horns

Tamarau and Anoa

progenitor tour

Description

Reason for disappearance

bison and bison

Buffalo

bison lifestyle

Preservation

bison

buffaloes

Asiatic genus

African genus

Zebu, yak and gaur

Zebu

Yaks

Gaur