Community Chat

[Oznell]

Although you might not think so!   They're the muskoxen, or known by their Inuit name, "Umingmak".

TCM just showed the famous short documentary "Arctic Roundup",  which was riveting, start to finish.  ( But then I love anything "Arctic" or "Antarctic").

In the mid-Fifties, Arctic ecologist John Teal, from Vermont, filmed an expedition to the Canadian Arctic with the cooperation of Canadian authorities.

They used sort of flimsy-looking little seaplanes, similar to this one. ( I couldn't find any stills from the documentary, but this is the closest in look that I could find).

The group's mission was to capture some umingmak-- for the first time, without using any techniques that would kill or harm the remaining herd-- and bring them to a specially prepared farm in Vermont for domestication.

The purpose was to create some self-sustaining herds that would help indigenous peoples who live in the Far North.  They would develop a cottage industry, for one, using the exquisitely soft, luxurious wool shed periodically by now-tamed animals.

The selected animals were ultimately re-introduced to the far North, including Alaska, as domesticated herds.

The babies are so cute.

These scientists were unbelievably patient and resourceful.  200 miles above the tree line, they actually found a "freak" stand of ( admittedly spindly) trees near water, where they could make their camp.

They erected tents, built pens, made fires and latrines, and strategized the best ways to corral some of the muskoxen. They had no guns.

Occasionally, stray bulls threatened them, but ultimately left them alone.

Every umingmak they captured was successfully transported by plane to Vermont, and then relocated back to the North after domestication.  They turned out to be playful and seemingly with more personality than some other animals.

Of course, some would say, that wild species should not be domesticated.  But now, there are both wild and tame muskoxen. 

The whole project was much more complicated than I've been able to describe.  If you can ever watch Teal's film, "Arctic Roundup",  it is interesting! 

[deepwaterdotter]

Thank you for posting an interesting story.  The babies are so cute and the adults majestic.  May they thrive in this challenging environment.

[UpNorthGorgy]

@Oznell thankyou ...Speaking of reintroducing ...Buffalo was reintroduced to N.Minnesota. A tribal member from Mill Lacs and another rancher worked on a seven year project. Land clearing, feeding and alot of work. They plan on making buffalo meat available to the tribe  for the first time this year. On the news last week

Jack Link's (jerky)  tried beefalo cross in the 80s. They raised beef. It never sold well at the time. Very lean and a bit sweet I recall, as tried it. 

[Q-Checker]

Thank you for this post -- so interesting!

[KathyM23]

@Oznell  I just read  a book by Marc Cameron about a US Marshall in Alaska and Muskoxen were mentioned about their warm fur used in a neck garment.  I had never heard of a muskoxen and asked DH what they were.

Coincidently you posted this wonfderful picture.  They are very cute, I think,

You always post such interesting items.  Thank you.

[LIndaMJ]

Super interesting, thank you @Oznell!

[cody2]

@Oznell My brother out of high school joined the Navy to see the world. After basic his first orders were to Antarctica as a helicopter mechanic. He was down there for a year. His time there had a profound effect on his young life. This was in 1955. There really wasn't much there except snow and ice and the Naval base. And the penguins. He loved them. Said every time was outside out and about the penguins followed them in herds. He said they were tame and liked to play like a bunch of puppies. While there he was baptized. Alot of time was spent contemplating where he would go and what he would do after leaving there. When the Winter weather came in there was no way anyone could come in or go out of there. They were marooned. We lost him at 62 to Agent Orange. The Navy eventually took his life. He was a fine man. Truly the wind beneath my wings. He was 8 years older; my protector and I adored him all of his life. 2

[Estellee]

Magnificent animals, thanks for posting them @Oznell 

[Citrine1]

What gorgeous, majestic animals.  And those babies are such adorable little munchkins.  Just beautiful!

[MoonieBaby]

Oh. My. Goooodness.  

I adore musk ox.  Sooo beautiful and majestic as adults and thoroughly smushy and huggable as bitty babies.  I've watched many videos on YouTube about these gems.  I love them.  Thanks for posting.