@elefante I don't think Heck Cattle are exhibited in the USA at all. I imagine that for Europeans the Aurochs is a sorely missed member of the local fauna...in the USA...it's a cow...and we already have our Bison. Although in fact impressive/exotic/culturally significant breeds like Ankole Cattle, Zebu, and Texas Longhorns are sometimes exhibited as "wild" animals...by inference if not explicitly.
In Flevoland there is a large grassland/marsh preserve with dozens of Konik Ponys, Heck Cattle, and Red Deer. Each winter sharpshooters kill a few of the weaker animals (representing prededation by absent Wolves, Bears, or Lions) and the carcasses are left in the field to benefit scavenging birds and mammals. This has had a positive effect on supporting large raptors (white-tailed eagles I believe).
In North America if we "scientifically" managed our feral horses and burros, sharpshooters (using lead free shot) could put down 15% of our horses and burros a year (representing the effect of absent Lions and Jaguars, near absent Wolves, and largely ineffective Cougars) and provide a steady, less risky diet for California Condors and other scavengers. Our feral equids would achieve ecologically sustained populations for themselves and the birds.
While Europeans (and then modern North Americans) provided the coup-de-grace to the Condor...to over-simplify...I believe that the loss of megafauna being preyed upon by other megafauna reduced the Conder to relics. The Pacific Coast providing the last real habitat that had nearby nesting sites and a somewhat steady supply of large animal carcasses. In this case fish washed ashore and more importantly whales, seals, and sea lions washed ashore or left behind by native hunters.
During the period that European livestock suffered from Jaguars, Wolves, and big Bear, there may have been a resurgence of the Condor, but improved husbandry and efficient predator control put a stop to that within a few generations. The remaining birds were forced to soar far and wide for Cougar killed deer, poisoned livestock, and roadkill...until lead contaminated gutpiles and powerline roosts nearly did them in.
Our feral equip populations are not effectively controlled by existing predators and our Conders are extremely conservation dependent. We actually have the tools to amend both issues...but not the will.
@Pleistohorse such interesting insight on condors. It's interesting you mention the Packfic Coast being their stronghold. If I'm not mistaking, Lewismand Clark sighted California condors in Oregon and of course they are long gone from there now. It would be an effective way to manage the population of feral equids in the manner you mentioned.
