Wenzu-the-Magnificent
Prehistoric Bull Ox
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A living link with prehistory was three cows away from extinction when
doctors from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research Foundation in Malta |
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Relief carvings at |
The continuity of domesticated livestock could answer many questions about the Mediterranean's earliest advanced civilization. Continued research may prove that the animals are indeed a living link with the prehistoric Temple Period. It's a link which was "within a bull's snort" of being lost forever.
As reported December 28, 2000 in "The Malta Independent" The project started six years ago when only three female Maltese oxen remained. The Maltese Cattle Foundation, led by Professor Mark Brincat, (Head of Department OB/GYN and Dean of Malta's School of Medicine,) imported male sperm from Italy to artificially inseminate the surviving female Maltese oxen. A male calf was the result. Prof. Brincat said the Maltese ox, which has been described as "the perfect draft animal" was once used as a beast of burden to plough the land, but farmers gave up rearing it as soon as motorized farming equipment was introduced. In fact, the animals were harnessed for the first time to haul the wooden horse into the City of Troy for the filming of "The Odyssey" television mini-series on the Maltese island of Gozo. Observers say the oxen took to the task as if they were born to it.
Dr. Brincat is encouraged by the progress of the program. "We have basically saved the species of Maltese ox. Even though we imported sperm from Italy, we can say that we have reached 96 per cent of the pure genetic content of the Maltese ox. We consider anything above 88 per cent as successful," Prof. Brincat said, explaining the process of natural genetic manipulation known as "backbreeding". Isolation on the Maltese islands has likely kept the Maltese oxen genetically more pure than the ancient Egyptian breeds or other European cattle.
OTSF hopes that Wenzu will become a national mascot for ongoing local support of conservation initiatives in Malta.
UPDATE 2004 - Dr. Brincat reports that his team of scientists have isolated and preserved the DNA of the last surviving pure-blooded animal. Also under protection are goats that represent the unique Maltese species. The Maltese male goat is depicted on stones from Tarxien prehistoric temple. These animals are reproducing nicely. They are excellent milk producers and the only breed known to regularly produce twin kids!
