Breeds of Enderby Island
A sub-Antarctic island where cattle lived wild for nearly a century, until the last survivors were rescued and the breed was saved by cloning.
Breeds of this place
Best time: December to February, the brief sub-Antarctic summer.
Enderby Island is in the Auckland Islands, far south of New Zealand in the Southern Ocean. Cattle were left there in 1894 by settlers who soon abandoned the island. The herd survived on its own for about a hundred years, adapting to cold, wind and scarce grazing, until it was removed in the early 1990s to protect the island's native plants and birds.
A breed from the edge of the world
Enderby Island cattle are small, most likely descended from Shorthorn stock. When the herd was removed, a single cow, named Lady, was rescued and brought to New Zealand. Using her cells, scientists cloned her in 1998, and with stored semen from Enderby bulls, the breed was rebuilt. Rare breed groups now keep it.
The island today
Enderby Island is a nature reserve, part of the New Zealand sub-Antarctic islands World Heritage Site. With cattle, rabbits and mice removed, its megaherbs, seabirds and sea lions have recovered. Landing is by permit only, usually from small expedition ships.
A trail idea for Enderby Island
- Sandy Bay The landing beach, with sea lions on the sand.
- Rata forest Low, wind-shaped forest behind the beach.
- Cliff tops Seabird colonies on the island's west coast.
Written by the EveryCow desk with AI assistance. Background: "Enderby Island" on Wikipedia. Fair dates, markets and visiting rules change; check locally before travelling, and keep a respectful distance from working animals. If something is wrong, tell us.
Nothing matches those filters yet. Take one off, or check back: new breeds are written every day.