Comments on: Europe’s Lost Megafauna, Part 1

By: Sordes

Sordes — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:14:40 +0000

Hmmm… I´ve eaten wild boar yesterday as I did the day before (it tasted fantastic btw), and it seems there´s still some more wild boar for today.

By: JETEXAS

JETEXAS — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:24:18 +0000

It's also an interesting sidebar that many of the wild boars in Germany are radioactive due to the Chernobyl incident. That makes them even more of a pest because they can't be hunted for food.

By: Sordes

Sordes — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 19:02:04 +0000

coelacanth, that´s without doubt not true. Lions already died out at most parts of Europe, and especially at Great Britain, much earlier in prehistoric times. The last european lions survived at the Balkans into early antiquity.
But it´s actually true that the sought of the romans for exotic animals which were used for the colosseums, had a big impact on many big animals, for example the north african bears, but also on elephants and lions at northern Africa.

By: PhotoExpert

PhotoExpert — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 18:38:36 +0000

Excellent article! A very enjoyable and informative read!

I will be looking forward to Part 2.

By: coelacanth1938

coelacanth1938 — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 10:00:17 +0000

Any detailed records of what animals the Romans used to nab for their arena games? I’ve been told they’re the ones responsible for making lions extinct in Europe and Britain.

By: dogu4

dogu4 — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:40:55 +0000

Great article which can bring us to a better understanding of what has been lost and, I hope, what can be brought back. As genetic engineering and a more enlightened perspective on human management of our natural environment merge we could once again see aurochs and many other species re-occupy wild-lands even in Europe.

By: Krimeg

Krimeg — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 08:21:25 +0000

Great post, Loren. To me the Aurochs was the most charismatic mammal from Europe, it’s a shame that it was hunted to extinction. I’m hastily looking forward the second part.

Moreover I agree that South America have also greatly suffered. For instance there was a Bear from Holocene (not the Spectacled bear) which I would have liked that it persist nowadays.

By: sunnydays122

sunnydays122 — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 06:23:15 +0000

Thanks for getting this guest blogger, Loren. I live in Germany and I’ll be looking forward to reading the second part.

By: thylo

thylo — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 05:35:22 +0000

Great article- I look forward to part two. I always assumed that Przewalski's Horse was a Polish creature because of the name... obviously i was not paying much attention as here it is noted as Mongolian. so I am curious, how does a central Asian creature receive a name honouring a Polish chap, or chap-ette? I am sure there is an interesting story there. Thanks! +++++ INSTANT Cryptomundo REPLY... One can always type in cryptid and known species names above, and see if CM has past postings on these animals. Of course, Przewalski's horse has been discussed before, here and here, for example.