The mouflon is the smallest of the mountain sheep. He is considered the progenitor of the domestic sheep. The first attempts to tame these animals were made 10 thousand years ago. The mouflon is found in Armenia, in the northern part of Iraq, in the Balkans, in the Crimea.
Instructions
Step 1
Wild mouflons enjoy mountainous terrain, although they move more slowly over the rocks than goats. Most often they can be found at an altitude of 4 thousand meters. Sometimes, in search of food, they descend below. These animals graze on the open slopes. Moreover, females with lambs in the summer keep apart from males.
Step 2
The female herds consist of about 100 individuals. Males join them exclusively during the rut. During this period, fierce battles take place between them for the right to be considered the strongest in the herd. After such "clarification of relations" between males, hierarchical relationships are established. The higher the position of the animal in the herd, the more females will show attention to it.
Step 3
Lambs are born in April or May. One female usually gives birth to 1-2 cubs, less often - 3-4 lambs. Initially, the babies keep close to the mother, and then remain in her herd for several years, not paying attention to the fact that she has new offspring.
Step 4
Mouflons feed on leaves and shoots of shrubs, grasses. Periodically go to watering places. They can even drink salt water. In the springtime, animals are actively gaining weight, and in the autumn-winter period they lose weight. The average weight of males is about 50 kg, females - 35 kg. The growth of mouflons is approximately 90 cm with a body length of 1.3 m.
Step 5
Males have large, spirally twisted, triangular horns that form one circle. Numerous wrinkles are observed on their surface. Females have small, flattened, slightly curved horns. In some individuals, they are completely absent. Mouflons are members of the bovid family, which means that the bone shaft of their horn is protected by a hollow sheath.
Step 6
Coloring of adult mouflons is reddish-brown with light spots on the sides. A dark stripe runs along the perimeter of the ridge. In the cold season, the fur becomes darker than in the summer. Young animals have a soft grayish-brown coat.
Step 7
Adults are hunted by leopards and wolves, and lambs are hunted by smaller predators, such as foxes. For humans, mouflons are of little industrial interest. In most cases, hunters hunt them for the sake of sports interest, using the meat and skins of killed animals for their needs.
Step 8
Fleeing from enemies, the mouflon relies only on its fast legs. In open areas, they easily run away from danger. They become absolutely helpless when they hit the edge of an abyss or a rocky gorge.
