European wildlife: Muskoxen sparring in snow, Dovrefjell National Park, Norway
European wildlife: Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) sparring in snow, Dovrefjell National Park, Norway.
This is probably one of the best images I made of the muskoxen.
Click here to view more images of muskoxen.
Click here to view more images of "the making of the muskoxen photos".
Click here to view more images of Norwegian landscapes and abstracts.
Like Marcel Huijser Photography on Facebook
All content © 2014 Marcel Huijser
Muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) about to spar, Dovrefjell National Park, NorwayMuskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) about to spar, Dovrefjell National Park, Norway. Muskoxen evolved in Asia and adapted to arctic tundra environments. Muskoxen became extinct in Europe (last records are from Sweden about 9,000 years ago) and Asia (last records are from the Taymyr peninsula in Russia about 2,000 years ago), probably primarily as a result of over hunting by people. Muskoxen crossed into North America from Siberia between 200,000 and 90,000 years ago and they survived in Alaska, northern Canada and Greenland. Muskoxen were reintroduced in Europe and Asia relatively recently. Muskoxen were first reintroduced in Dovrefjell National Park in Norway in 1931-1932, but these animals were all killed during the second world war. A second reintroduction attempt (1947-1953) was successful though. The muskoxen population size in Dovrefjell National Park is currently estimated at several hundred individuals.