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 every corner of the globe. Representatives of wild bulls can be found in the desert savannas 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.
Wild bull tur was a good source of meat and skin, because of this, hunting was open for him. And given the slowness of the beast, even the weakest hunter could kill him. According to historical data, the last tour died in1627. 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 tour
One of the closest relatives of the tour is the 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 that can keep him warm in severe frosts.
Earlier, this wild bull lived throughout the territory of modern Europe, Russia, and also in the Caucasus. But, as in the case of tours, the animal was 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 took up the restoration of 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 bison, this wild bull was also subjected to human tyranny. So, if at the beginning of the 19th century their population numbered more than60 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 - migrants.
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 poor animals from the windows.
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 easily move from one cliff to another.
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.
Lovers of hot countries: gaur and buffalo
Gaur lives in India - a wild bull, striking in its size. Cases have been recorded when adults reached a weight of 1.3-1.4 tons. Heightan adult beast 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 the savannas of Africa, 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 not in 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 the island of Sulawesi, in Indonesia. Since these animals are found only here, they are protected by the World Organization for the Protection of Animal Rights.
