Sheep mouflon: description and habitat, can I keep at home

Moufflon sheep are wild sheep that are found in different parts of the world. Their domestication began 7-11 thousand years ago. It happened in southwest Asia. Today, the population of these animals is gradually decreasing. Mouflons have characteristic horns that attract hunters. However, some farmers raise these animals on their farms.

Description of the animal

These rams are medium in size. The length of their body is 150 centimeters, and the height at the shoulders can reach 92 centimeters. A characteristic feature of these animals are large horns twisted in a spiral. They have 3 edges and form a maximum of 1 turn.

In summer, mouflons have a yellow-red or reddish-brown color. In winter, the coat becomes brownish. There is a dark stripe on the ridge. It is more pronounced in adult animals. There is a mane at the bottom of the neck. It includes white and black-brown hair. Young lambs have brown-grey fur.

Animals start shedding at the end of February and finish in May. From September, winter fur begins to grow. This process continues until December.

Varieties and habitats

Mouflon is one of the smallest mountain sheep. They are found in Armenia, in the Balkans, in the Crimea, in northern Iraq. There are also a small number of animals in Cyprus, Corsica and Sardinia.

Scientists identify 3 most famous types of mouflon:

Cypriot - lives only in forests and has a smaller size compared to individuals of other species. The color can be different - golden or brown. At the same time, the belly, nose and bottom of the hooves have a white tint.
European - it is characterized by short hair. On the back, it has a reddish-brown color. On the belly, the fur is white. In winter, the top of the hull becomes brown-chestnut.
Transcaucasian - little more than a domestic sheep. The animal has a strong body and reddish fur. The chest is dark brown in color.

Mouflon behavior

Mouflons go out for food in the evening or early morning. They do not stay in one place for a long time. During the day, the animals rest under the bushes or hide under the rocks. This helps them protect themselves from predators. These sheep are characterized by a well-developed herd instinct. They gather in large groups of up to 1000 individuals. Animals are also able to establish close bonds. When separated, they experience great stress.

What does a wild animal eat

Sheep live in a mountainous area, where a minimum of grass grows. Therefore, animals have learned to dig up the roots of plants and find food on the rocks. Depending on the availability of water and food, sheep can move from place to place. Mouflons mainly feed on the following foods:

cereals;
branches and fruits of plants;
roots;
berries;
green grass;
foliage of fruit trees.

Moufflons eat quite a lot in the summer. This is required for weight gain before winter. The stomach of animals can absorb solid cultures, which is very important in the cold season. In winter, sheep lose weight significantly, and some of them die altogether.Mouflons rarely face water shortages. They can even drink s alty liquid. Therefore, animals often settle in places where there is a lack of water. This helps them avoid predators.

Reproduction and longevity

During the rut, males meet with females on the plains. At the same time, rams hold tournaments for the opportunity to mate. Such fights are a clash of two males with horns. Sometimes weak males get severely injured and even die.

The rut may take place at different times. This can happen in March or December. Females form small herds, which include 10-15 individuals. 4-6 males come to them. At first, they diverge for 20 meters, and then collide at high speed.

Puberty of females occurs at 1.5 years, and males - at 3-4. Pregnancy lasts 5 months. After that, 1-2 lambs are born.Already in the first 2 hours they are on their feet. For 4 weeks, the cubs feed on milk. They can then eat soft plants. At 3 years old, males leave the herd of females and look for their place in the hierarchy. Under natural conditions, the average lifespan of sheep is 8 years, in captivity it increases to 10-15 years.

Natural enemies of mouflons

The enemies of animals are different. It all depends on the habitat. Asian animals often encounter panthers, lynxes, cheetahs. They can also suffer from attacks by brown bears, Transcaucasian tigers, foxes.

European mouflons run the risk of encountering foxes, Sardinian lynxes, martens. On rare occasions, rams collide with wolves.

In European regions, mouflons are more protected from predatory animals, as hunting is difficult due to the mountainous landscape. At the same time, steppe eagles, golden eagles, black vultures are dangerous for newborn lambs. They can also be attacked by a buzzard or a kite.Mouflons cannot fight back predatory animals. They show aggression only during the rut. Females are not able to protect cubs. When threatened, they run away.

Population and species status

In the last century, mouflons were actively hunted, as a result of which the European species was under the threat of extinction. To restore the population of individual individuals, they were distributed in southern Europe. Due to the lack of natural enemies, it was possible to restore the population. Mouflons are considered a source of delicious meat and strong skin, so they are still hunted today. At the same time, Asian mouflons were not on the verge of extinction. This is due to the lack of commercial value. Such animals are used as an object of sport hunting. Their horns are sold as souvenirs.

Can I keep at home

In captivity, animals are mainly raised to create hybrids with ordinary sheep. In this way, their valuable characteristics can be increased. The fact is that the descendants of hybrids are highly viable and develop well. They are able to develop immunity to various diseases.

It is recommended to install the enclosure for mouflons on dry stony soil. It is strictly forbidden to use barbed wire. At home, you can breed Corsican, Cypriot, Asian varieties. At the same time, animals are characterized by a fairly high population density. This reduces breeding costs and reduces the rate of reproduction. Normally, 15 adult mouflons can be settled on 1 hectare. It is recommended to use modern methods of intensive grazing. Natural nutrition is essential.

To provide mouflons with grass, it is recommended to level the soil, establish the nutrient content, carry out the prevention of the spread of weeds, and disinfect the soil. In winter, mouflons should be given hay, cereal and vegetable mixtures, sheep feed.

When introducing new individuals, quarantine must last at least 1 month. During this period, animals require careful monitoring. The aviary is recommended to be located on rough terrain with steep slopes. It is desirable that they be covered with bushes. Mouflons are quite rare and unusual animals. At the same time, some varieties of these sheep can be grown at home. However, for this they need to provide careful care.