A Vision of Recreating the Past
During Nazi Germany’s rise, Lutz Heck, director of the Berlin Zoo, pursued a controversial project: bringing extinct animals back to life. Inspired by Germany’s mythic past, Heck aimed to recreate extinct species like the aurochs, wild cattle that disappeared in the 17th century.
The Aurochs Experiment
Heck, with his brother Heinz, used back-breeding to revive the aurochs. They selected cattle breeds across Europe, focusing on traits resembling the extinct species. By the mid-1930s, they introduced Heck cattle, believed to be close to the original aurochs.
Nazi Support
Heck’s experiments gained support from Hermann Göring, a powerful Nazi leader. Göring shared Heck’s vision of restoring ancient German landscapes with revived animals. These animals were released into hunting reserves for the Nazi elite.
A Dark Legacy
Heck’s work mirrored Nazi ideals of purity and control over nature. The animals he bred were later killed as the Allies advanced, but some Heck cattle survived.
The Nazi Quest to Revive Extinct Animals 🐂
A Vision of Recreating the Past
During Nazi Germany’s rise, Lutz Heck, director of the Berlin Zoo, pursued a controversial project: bringing extinct animals back to life. Inspired by Germany's mythic past, Heck aimed to recreate… pic.twitter.com/j4cd1lswoF— Detective Tiger's Stories (@TigerDetective) October 15, 2024