Genetic Research Reveals Causes of Aurochs Extinction

New research from Lund University indicates that the aurochs, ancestors of modern cattle, faced multiple stressors leading to their extinction. A population bottleneck during migration to Scandinavia reduced their genetic diversity, while the flooding of a land bridge 8,000 years ago isolated the population.

Combined with intense human hunting, these factors caused a sharp decline in the Swedish population. The species eventually disappeared from Sweden around 6,500 years ago as their open-landscape habitats transitioned into dense forests. This decline culminated in their final global extinction in 17th-century Poland.

Editor's note: The brief accurately synthesizes the research findings and timeline provided in the source.