Musk ox make their debut at Kincraig
The only two Musk Ox in the UK made their formal public debut today at the Highland Wildlife Park.
The mother and daughter act took to their outdoor enclosure after a short period of settling in since their arrival in January.
Mr Douglas Richardson, Animal Collection Manager at the Highland Wildlife Park, said: "We are delighted to have the only two Musk Ox in the UK, a species that has not been imported into this country for over 24 years, and being able to share these powerful and prehistoric animals with the public is wonderful.
“Our Musk Ox duo mother Karin and daughter Madelon have been settling in nicely to their new home here at the park over the last few weeks and today saw them take their first steps out in front of the cameras!
"Musk Ox have a notorious reputation for being aggressive and bad-tempered, so we were surprised to find that the pair were a little shy and unsure, preferring not to venture out right away.
"Now that the girls have had a little time to adjust and are now quite happy, they seem to be enjoying exploring their outdoor enclosure – although we’re sure that mother and daughter will live up to their reputation in time!”
Musk Ox Fast Facts
- They have an extremely thick coat
- Their coat is a mix of black, grey and brown and includes long guard hairs that almost reach the ground
- Their wool is called qiviut, which is actually the under-coat and an excellent Scrabble word, and is highly prized for its softness, length and insulation value
- Males emit a strong odour – hence the name – and females are attracted to it during the mating season
- They primarily live in Arctic Canada and Greenland, but there are also re-introduced populations in Alaska and Siberia where they had become extinct by the end of the 19 century. A small population has also been established in Norway.
- During the last ice age, the species was found in the UK.
- Musk ox are actually more closely related to sheep and goats than oxen
