Genetic study reveals causes of aurochs extinction in Scandinavia

New research from Lund University identifies multiple stressors behind the extinction of aurochs in Scandinavia. The ancient cattle ancestors experienced a population bottleneck during migration, reducing genetic diversity, followed by total isolation when rising sea levels flooded land bridges 8,000 years ago.

Intense human hunting pressure and habitat transformation from open landscapes to dense forests further accelerated their decline. Scientists found the aurochs population in southern Sweden persisted in low numbers until approximately 6,500 years ago. This study, published in The Holocene, highlights how environmental shifts and human activity collectively led to the species' disappearance from the region.

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