The Aurochs (Bos primigenius) is a large extinct ungulate that ranged across Eurasia and Northern Africa. It is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2.
Description[]
The aurochs is a member of the cattle family and is considered to be the wild ancestor of the modern domestic cattle. It was one of the largest herbivores of its time and region, with bulls reaching a shoulder height of 180cm (71in). The aurochs was sexually dimorphic; cows were smaller and are believed to have been a reddish-brown compared to the bull's black coloration. Both sexes had extremely large horns, which could grow up to 80cm (31in) in the largest individuals.
Believed to have evolved in Asia, the aurochs migrated across much of Europe and into Northern Africa. It is believed to have lived in forested regions where it would graze on grass, twigs and acorns, and typically lived solitary lives in summer, before forming small herds in winter. The aurochs had great cultural significance to humans and is known to have been domesticated at least twice, eventually giving rise to modern cattle. Habitat loss and hunting led to the decline of the wild aurochs and the last known individual died in Poland in 1627.
Zoo Tycoon 2[]
The aurochs is an adoptable animal in Zoo Tycoon 2 and was added as part of the Extinct Animals expansion pack. In Campaign and Challenge mode, it is available for adoption when a zoo reaches a rating of 1 star.
The aurochs is a Temperate Forest animal.
 zootycoon.com Description
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| The habitat of the aurochs, an immense species of wild ox, extended across Europe and North Africa to Asia. The aurochs was domesticated in Asia around 6000 BC. By 2000 BC, domesticated aurochs appeared in Greece and perhaps in India. This domesticated line eventually spread to Switzerland and Germany, and then to the British Isles. The wild aurochs population declined as its habitat decreased with the growth of farms and cities, and the species became extinct in the 1600s. A few modern cattle breeds, including Highland cattle from Scotland, resemble their distant relative, the aurochs. |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Aurochs are coded as "CowAuroch" in the game, which is why they don't appear next to other animals whose names start with A (ex. Aardvark, Ankylosaurus).
- For unknown reasons, the aurochs is missing many social interaction behaviors. Young animals will not interact at all with their mothers (nursing, calling, following, etc.), and males will not challenge eachother like other ungulates do.
- The aurochs has coded behaviour that suggests the ability to attack and kill other animals, though this goes entirely unused in-game. It's unclear if this was intended to be akin to the food competitor behaviour seen with the Giant Sable Antelope and the Bluebuck, or it was simply scrapped from the animal.
- When the aurochs encounters an adult male guest, it gets petted instead of attacking the guest. This interaction is shared with the thylacine.
- Young female super aurochs are not scaled to the same size as young male super aurochs (0.6), and instead are the same size as non-super young aurochs (0.55).