The Wonder of The Musk Ox

Musk oxen in a defensive circle

          There is on topic on musk oxen that I have purposely avoided since the start of my blog, but since this will be my last post and and next week I will have my ted talk, I find now to be the appropriate time to talk about the most fascinating and distinguishing characteristic of this wondrous arctic mammal, and that is the way by which they defend themselves. Since this defensive tactic is such a pivotal topihc when it comes to this creature I have made brief mention of it a time or two before, but it is only now that I can fully divulge in to the the full details of this amazing work of mother nature, for it is the characteristic of the musk oxen that teaches us humans so many important life lessons. 

"No other animal has the defense method of musk oxen. When danger 
threatens they do not run away. Instead, a herd of twenty to forty 
individuals backs into a rough circle facing outward with the calves in 
the center or under their mother's bellies. This ring of horned heads 
can defy such natural enemies as the arctic wolf and the grizzly bear. 
From time to time a bull dashes out to do battle, then returns to the 
circle. He is exceedingly nimble. A single sweep of his horns can 
cripple or kill a wolf, dog or Eskimo hunter armed with a spear."

        This quote taken from a wildlife website explains the way that these wise creatures defend themselves, as it remarks, the musk oxen do not run away -- in times of extreme threat and danger they stand their ground and face the incoming opposition. They are not fazed by the instinct of fear that most herd animals of their sort are controlled by, horses, buffalo, deer, even African herd animals like zebra and antelope instinctively flee in the presence of danger, however the musk oxen are willing to face the impeding danger. If they refused to do so they would not make it, for wool of a musk oxen insulates them to such an extant that they are often prone to overheating -- not to mention that the young musk oxen would not be able to out run the predators and would surely fall prey. 
          There are occasions where the musk oxen become afraid and break their defensive circle --rather than facing the threat they choose to turn and run. These cases always turn out tragically. The young musk oxen cannot keep up with the herd and they are singled out and taken down. Without the cooperation of the entire herd their numbers dwindle. The very young and the very old -- the weakest links  so to speak cannot defend themselves alone. Without the protection of the herd -- without the defensive circle these more vulnerable oxen fall victim. Here is a video that shows how breaking the defensive ranks can affect the herd, it does not end well for the musk oxen so you may not want to watch of you are faint of heart...even I look away when I see the tragic fate.

          Because these musk oxen neglected to hold their ground -- because they worried about saving themselves and forsook the defensive circle that is used to preserve even the weaker musk oxen they were overtaken by the enemy. We philosophize the nature teaches us to believe in such terms as "survival of the fittest" and "you are only as strong as your weakest link" but these are human terms. When the musk oxen demonstrate behavior of these terms the turn our is fatal, however when they stand their ground and cooperate they are able to overcome their foes.
          I beleive that nature does not teach us to "look out for number one." Instead, if we looked to the musk oxen, we would see that nature compels us to look out for the weakest link, come around that area of weakness and defend it. If we were to look out for one another and embrace each other in times of stress perhaps we could face our foes without dwindling in number. The musk oxen is a survivor -- Miraculously they overcame the Ice Age; a time when all other large animals perished from this earth. They have survived thousands of years with thousands of perils but they have always faced these perils head on.
           Perhaps the fact that the musk oxen is unable to run away because their bodies cannot stand the heat is precisely the reason for their survival. We as a species could better learn to survive too, if we learned to not flee from hardship but to face it, furthermore not only to face our troubles, but to do so in cooperation, looking out for others around us instead of leaving them to the wolves.
1. http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/natbltn/700-799/nb740.htm