The content of the article
Mouflon is a hoofed ruminant animal of the ram genus. He is considered one of the two ancestors of all modern domestic sheep. Despite their impressive appearance (merit - their stunning horns), the mouflon is actually one of the smallest ram breeds found in the wild.
Description mouflon
The males of this extremely cautious wild sheep have large crescent horns, which are valued by many hunters and are considered trophies. The size of the animal within the group depends on their size. Larger horns define the male higher domination. Most of the subspecies of females also have horns, but they are much smaller than the males. In some populations, most females do not grow horns.
Adult male mouflon not too large.His shoulder height is about 0.75 m; length - 1.2-1.4 m, tail length - about 10 cm; small head; the mature male has strongly developed horns, curved almost by one turn, about 40 cm long. The weight of an adult male is up to 50 kg. The female mouflon is slightly lighter and smaller, its weight is about 35 kg.
The mouflon has muscular legs and a squat body that helps it move through steep terrain. The head of the animal is well balanced and proportional to its body. The breed standard says that he must keep his head high when he is on the alert.
In different subtypes of mouflon, the overall appearance differs slightly; the color varies by season, as well as between males and females. The nose and the inside of the ears are usually white. The legs are long and slender with a vertical black line below the knees. The mouflon has a white belly and coat, which varies in color from gray with a reddish tinge to brown and coffee color, while the male of the European mouflon is dark chestnut and the female is beige.
Adult rams tend to develop a substantial thoracic ruff with long, coarse hair, which tends to be white at the throat, turning to black when it extends to the front limbs.In most subspecies, the male mouflon also have a lighter saddle spot, developing and increasing in size as they grow older, and a black stripe that starts at the back of the head, lasts along the shoulders, continues under the body and ends on the hind legs. Mouflon has large glands under the eyes, which often exude a sticky substance.
Habitats
As a rule, mouflons live in mountainous areas with meadows and deserts, although in Europe mouflons were also introduced in forest areas.They can be found at an altitude of 3000 meters above sea level. They prefer the gentle slopes of high mountain ranges with a reasonable amount of cover, and use steep, steep areas to avoid predators.
Mouflon lifestyle
Mouflons tend to feed early in the morning and evening, resting during the day under a hanging bush or rock, where they are well hidden. These individuals are herd animals that form non-territorial herds grazing on grass. If food is scarce, then they feed on leaves and fruits. Their senses are well developed, as sheep depend on early detection and flight from approaching predators, especially the leopard, jackal and wolf.
Mouflons reach sexual maturity at about three years, although in populations with low hunting pressure, males are unlikely to breed for up to four years. Females usually give birth to one lamb (sometimes twins). Females with lambs keep together with herds of up to one hundred individuals, the males walk alone, they return to the herd only in the mating season.
In summertime, mouflons live in a strip of mixed forests, where they find, in addition to food, also shade.These rams are nomadic species, often moving in search of new feeding places. In winter, they migrate to warmer heights to avoid very low temperatures and food shortages.
Mouflon is a nocturnal animal. They graze only at night, going to the lawns next to the forest. All day they are hiding in the forest, and in the evening they leave the day shelters in search of food. Mouflon graze all night, and in the morning they hide again in the forest.
What to eat
In summer, mouflons feed on vegetation that grows in their habitats. First of all they eat grass, and if it is not enough, they switch to green leaves of bushes. In winter, they feed on parts of plants that will find on top of the snow; they don’t know how to look for dry grass in the snow. Females usually have better feeding places because their health is very important for breeding. During this period of the year, they feed on branches of bushes sticking out from under the snow, tree shoots, tree lichens and dried grass.
Mouflon multiplication
Mouflons are polygynous, males fight each other to achieve dominance and win the opportunity of mating with females. The dominance of a ram depends on its age, and how big its horns are.Fights between rams about their harem of ewes rarely cause serious injuries, and the winner does not make any further attacks.
Mouflons reach sexual maturity at the age of about 1.5 years. Females can be fertilized already at 2 years of age, and at the age of 2 years they can bring the first lamb. Males begin to mate a little later - at the age of 3-4 years. At an earlier age, they are driven away from females by mature males. They mate from autumn to early winter.
Pregnancy lasts about 210 days, and in April from one to two lambs are born. The female leaves the herd before the lamb to give birth in a secluded place. The newborn lamb can immediately stand on its feet for a few minutes, and soon after it starts running. The lamb remains closely tied to its mother, feeding every 10-15 minutes. When the lambs get stronger, the females return to the herd. Since males are unfriendly to lambs, females avoid them.
The number of mouflons is declining today, and they are classified as vulnerable in the list of endangered species. European mouflons in the wild live up to 8 years, and in zoos - up to 14, sometimes up to 18 years (under favorable conditions).
The benefits and harm of mouflon
For humans, mouflon do not pose any danger. In breeding very often use the European breed. On its basis, breeds of domestic sheep, capable of grazing on mountain pastures year-round, were bred. The skin of the European mouflon is used in light industry, and its meat has good taste.
Demographic threats
Mouflon are threatened by the expansion of agriculture and farms, which leads to a reduction in their numbers and division into small, scattered groups. Overgrazing within their range, due to the expansion of sheep farming, has led to erosion, which in turn has led to a reduction in the suitable habitat of this species.
Parasites and infectious diseases of livestock, especially domestic sheep, in many areas pose a serious threat. Poachers hunt adult rams because of the value of their horns as trophies, and lambs at birth are sometimes lured to pets.
Mouflons are often imported for use on North American game ranches, but purebred mouflon are rarely hunted, as a rule, the breed interbreed with domestic sheep to create more exotic and unique trophy sheep for hunters.
Video: Moufflon (Ovis orientalis)
To send