Musk Ox

My photographer friend Wilbur Norman does photo tours all over the world. He has been scouting Norway for an upcoming jaunt and sends this closeup he recently took of a Musk Ox.

The Magnificent Musk Ox - Ovibos moschatus ("musky sheep-ox", the males emit a musky odor during mating season)

It has the same name as me in the Inuit (Eskimo) Inuktitut language: "Umingmak" ("the bearded one"). This is also the title of a 1967 book, 'Oomingmak', by my late acquaintance Peter Matthiessen; I treasure the copy signed to me.)

This photography adventure was quite an experience and one I never have to do again in winter (17 km/10 miles per day in snowshoes at altitude above treeline!) However, my guide 'Alan' tells me the last two weeks of September are a glorious time to visit as the barren, low-scrub landscape turns into autumn colors and the only equipment one needs is good hiking footwear.

Along with the bison and the pronghorn, the muskox was one of a few species of Pleistocene megafauna in North America to survive the Pleistocene/Holocene extinction event and live to the present day. - Wikipedia

IMAGE: ©2024 Wilbur Norman.

They are beautiful creatures. Great job.