Highland Wildlife Park Musk oxen at HWP

The HWP site has said for a few months now that they have 'one male and one female' musk ox at the park. This led me to assume that one of the two original females either died or departed.

Are you saying there are currently 1.2 at the park then?
 
TeaLovingDave said:
Let it be re-iterated that my primary sentiment on the matter is that I am just happy we *have* musk ox in the UK and that they *are* breeding ;)
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I agree that this is excellent news.

However, regarding the discussion about subspecific musk-ox hybrids, it is interesting to note that Colin Groves is not convinced that Ovibos moschatus wardi is a valid sub-species.

Quoting from “Ungulate Taxonomy” (Colin Groves & Peter Grubb; 2011):-

The question needs to be re-examined; in the meantime we recognise no subspecies in just a single valid species
 
Pertinax said:
Admittedly the tail and ear tuft bleaching which is peculiar to the British race has given it its own subspecific status(S.v. lecourus-spelling?) and it is smaller than European Red squirrel too, but apart from those factors, I still think it is a closer comparison than with. e.g. Tigers.
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I have doubts that the 'British' red squirrel is anything different to continental populations, as imports were regularly made to bolster the small population. I have heard of claims that certain current relict populations were remnants of the original British type, but I have never seen any real evidence, only hearsay and that the animals 'look' like the right thing (whatever that means).

I would strongly argue that the same goes for red deer and wildcats, which are also regularly credited with being 'pure British' populations. Either not enough variation from continental populations or indescriminate mixing in the past.

Back to musk ox, again animals have been moved around historically due to eradication, and I would be really surprised that that there is any real variation between populations now.
 
If anyone wants clarification on the Musk Ox just drop HWP an email, or post on their facebook page. They've shown many times they are more than happy to answer questions and queries.
 
The female(-s) of musk ox at HWP is/are already of hybrid origin. That was the reason Liberec gave the initial pair up, to free their space to be able to source animals of a pure subspecies.
 
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