First musk ox of the year

The Arctic mammal, more closely related to sheep and goats than to oxen, seems to be doing well in Sweden. 

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  The musk ox Naessa with her yet to be named calf. Image source: myskoxe.se/Janne Eriksson, Funäsdalen

• Animal lovers are smiling at the news of a new baby musk ox in Härjedalen in western Sweden. Naessa, one of the oxen at the musk ox park in Härjedalen, gave birth to a calf, her fifth, on May 3, a little earlier than expected. The calf, whose gender is still unknown, is doing well. People come from far and wide to see the musk ox in its natural habitat, going as far as securing campsites on Tännäs to be closer to these beloved animals. With history that traces back over 50,000 years, the species was hunted to extinction in Europe. Sweden is the only place where wild musk oxen can be seen — in a nature reserve dedicated to their survival.