Work on preparing the stuffed specimen of the last pure Maltese ox, which had to be put down because of old age last March, is nearing completion.

Taxidermist Roger Degiorgio, who was entrusted with the job, has had a tough time putting the hide together because it had suffered a lot of damage due to the animal's age as well as because parts of the body such as hooves and skull had to be removed before the tanning process. The hide was tanned to preserve it against decomposition.

"I guarantee that it will last for at least 400 years, even 1,000 if placed in a glass case," Mr Degiorgio said yesterday.

An artificial skull was prepared because the original skull will be exhibited in the Natural History Museum. A manikin was imported from abroad but Mr Degiorgio had to rasp off some 12cm from all round as it was a manikin for a fat cow, not a skinny one like the Maltese oxen. Its glass eyes came from Germany.

The stuffed specimen weighs around 200 kilos.

"It entailed a lot of work but it's shaping up well. It should be dry and ready in about two weeks' time," Mr Degiorgio said.

The cow, which reached the age of 17, was used in breeding programmes in a bid to save the Maltese ox from extinction. The back breeding programme was carried out under the supervision of Prof. Mark Brincat and there are now some 18 Maltese oxen that are up to 97 per cent pure.

Some bulls were purchased by the Agriculture Department and one of them might have to be put down because of its age.

The oxen were saved from extinction by herdsman Paul Saliba from Zejtun, who has a farm in Marsascala. Department of Agriculture personnel, especially Karmenu Abela and Noel Azzopardi, took a personal interest in the project, as did the milk producers co-operative.

Prof. Brincat has been appealing to the government to reach an agreement with Mr Saliba to build a bigger farm with viewing galleries as such a project could assist in promoting agro-tourism.

Prof. Brincat argues that the Maltese ox is as unique as the Neolithic temples of Mnajdra and Hagar Qim, except that they are living relics.