8 Wild Animals Ancient Cultures Successfully Tamed

Throughout history, we as humans have been able to tame and even domesticate animals to our benefit. Some of these animals continue to help us today. For instance, dogs are bred to hunt pests, protect us from intruders, and simply be our companions. Beasts of burden, such as cows, plow fields and provide us with milk and meat. Horses are still used as an important means of transportation in the steppes of Central Asia. But in the past, societies found creative ways to partner with wild animals that we might not have thought about today. Here are eight surprising alliances between ancient people and wild animals. 

The Ancient Chinese (Cormorants)

Fishermen in ancient China found a way to make their job easier thanks to the cormorant, a large aquatic bird that feeds itself by diving under water to hunt for fish. The fisherman would tie a string around the base of the bird’s neck, which would still permit them to swallow small fish while preventing them from feasting on the larger ones. The birds would drop these large fish onto the raft to either be sold at the market or taken home to feed the fisherman’s family. The cormorant wasn’t taken for granted either. It was pretty much considered a valued member of the family, whom it would typically spend its entire life with. They were cared for and well-fed, with smaller fish being their reward for a job well done.