Hawaiian wild cattle

Hawaiian wild cattle is a feral breed of domestic cattle (Bos taurus) introduced at the end of XVIII century, still freely roaming the Island of Hawaiʻi,.

History

In 1793 and in 1794 Captain George Vancouver gave 4 males and 8 females to Hawaian king Kamehameha I. Kamehameha prohibited hunt of the feral cattle placing a kapu (Hawaian taboo), not lifted until 1830. As a consequence, by 1846, 25,000 cattle were roaming the countryside on the wild in addition to 10,000 semi-domesticated cattle. Huge herds were destroying crops and sometimes even killing people, so hunting has begun to reduce numbers of animals. In a bullock pit on Mauna Kea the trampled dead body of Scottish botanist David Douglas (known of Douglas fir) was found in 1834. Those traps were known for catching people, but also possibility of murder was considered in this case. Today the Department of Land and Natural Resources' (DLNR) Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) is involved in feral cattle eradication organizing lotteries for special access feral cattle control. The hunt is not so easy, because animals over the generations became smaller and a little wild. Similarly as local feral sheep developed longer legs. Vehicles frequently hit cows congregated on road enjoying the asphalt heated up from the sun. The local legend of "invisible cows" on Mauna Kea originates from these crashes. On the roadsides signs warning against cows in darkness or fog are set.