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Bold textTHE MUSK OX OF THE NORTHERN ARCTIC TERRITORIES BY LARS-OLE MORTENSEN

THE NAME IS MISLEADING, SINCE THE MUSK OX IS RELATED MORE TO THE GOAT AND SHEEP RATHER THAN THE OXEN. THERE IS A THOUGHT THAT THE MUSK OX OF THE ARCTIC SURVIVED THE ICE AGE BY FINDING WAYS TO AVOID PREHISTORIC HUNTERS IN GREENLAND AND NORTHERN CANADA. NOT ONLY PREHISTORIC PEOPLES HUNTED THE MUSK OX BUT ALSO THE VIKINGS. THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE ANIMAL, LOOKING MORE LIKE A BUFFALO WITH A STRONG ATTITUDE. THEY LIVE IN VERY SMALL HERDS OF UP TO 20 ANIMALS AND ARE VERY PROTECTIVE OF THEIR FAMILIES, ESPECIALLY THEIR YOUNG. THE MUSK OX HAS A VERY UNIQUE BEHAVIOR WHEN THEIR HERD IS THREATENED. THE ADULTS WILL FORM A HALF, SOMETIMES A FULL CIRCLE, LIKE THE WAGON TRAINS OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIER DAYS. THIS BEHAVIOR SERVES AS A VERY EFFECTIVE DEFENSE AGAINST THE RESIDENT WOLVES, GRIZZLY BEARS AND THE EVER PRESENT AND ABUNDANT POLAR BEAR POPULATIONS. LESS THAN HALF A CENTURY AGO, THE POPULATION WAS NEAR EXTINCTION. FORTUNATELY, THE MUSK OX POPULATION HAS RECOVERED AFTER BEING PROTECTED FROM OVER-HUNTING. NOW THE ARCTIC POPULATION IS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER 125,000 INDIVIDUAL MUSK OX AND LET US HOPE THESE NUMBERS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT LARS-OLE MORTENSEN FOR MORE INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO MY EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE ARCTIC MUSK OX.