Conservation Center Introduces Musk Oxen to Moose Calves (with photo gallery)

Unprecedented mix of species proves successful

Tools

By KTVA CBS 11 News
Bio

Story Created: Jun 7, 2012 at 10:32 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jun 7, 2012 at 10:36 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - The Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center had plenty of youngsters on its hands this spring: elk, wood bison, musk oxen and orphaned moose calves were all residents. But the center's staff had an original idea - why not see if the moose calves and musk oxen calves would play well together?

The two species don't meet in the wild naturally, and Mike Miller, the center's director, said they were prepared to separate the calves if things didn't go as planned, but the two species - previously strangers - got along famously, the center reports.

The musk oxen calves were named Hammond and Walter; the moose calves are Ted, Tony and Sarah - notice a theme?

Click one of the small thumbnails at left to see the new friends, or visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center at mile 79 of the Seward Highway, where the calves are on display daily and you can catch them feeding at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 1000 Characters Left

KTVA CBS 11 | Anchorage, Alaska News and Weather and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.