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Table of Contents
Benefits of Wild Sheep
Benefits of Wild Sheep
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Conservation Grazing
Conservation Grazing
Dangers to Wild Sheep
Dangers to Wild Sheep
Water Scarcity
Water Scarcity
Predators
Predators
Using predator control, such as sheep nurseries can help reduce loss of lambs.
Ways to Help Wild Sheep
Ways to Help Wild Sheep
Translocation Programs
Translocation Programs
Types of Wild Sheep
Types of Wild Sheep
This section also includes ferral and historical sheep breeds used for conservation grazing.
Argali
Argali
"The argali (Ovis ammon), also known as the mountain sheep, is a wild sheep native to the highlands of western East Asia, the Himalayas, Tibet, and the Altai Mountains" - Wikipedia: Argali
"The name 'argali' is the Mongolian word for wild sheep.[2] It is the largest species of wild sheep." - Wikipedia: Argali
Bighorn Sheep
Bighorn Sheep
"The bighorn sheep is one of two species of wild sheep in North America with large horns, the other being the Dall sheep (Ovis dalli). The latest science shows that "bighorn sheep" is one species, with three living subspecies: the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis canadensis), the Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae)—formerly called the California bighorn sheep, and the desert bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni)."
Arizona: Kofa National Wildlife Refuge and Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge.
"Bighorn sheep live in the western mountainous regions of North America, ranging from southern Canada to Mexico. Their steep mountainous habitat, with ledges sometimes only two inches (five centimeters) wide, provides cover from predators such as coyotes, golden eagles, mountain lions, bears, and Canada lynx. The sheep are important food sources for these large predators. Most populations undergo seasonal movements, generally using larger upland areas in the summer and concentrating in sheltered valleys during the winter.
In warmer months, bighorn sheep browses on grasses, clover, and sedges. It transitions to eating woody plants like willow and sage in colder months. In desert areas, bighorn sheep often eat plants such as holly and cacti.
As ruminants, grass-eating bighorn sheep have a complex four-part stomach that enables them to eat large portions rapidly before retreating to cliffs or ledges where they can thoroughly rechew and digest their food, safe from predators. Then bacteria takes over, breaking down plant fibers for digestion. The sheep also absorb moisture during this digestive process, enabling them to go for long periods without water." - NWF: Bighorn Sheep
Dall or Thin Horn
Dall or Thin Horn
"Ovis dalli, also known as the Dall sheep or thinhorn sheep, is a species of wild sheep native to northwestern North America. Ovis dalli contains two subspecies: Ovis dalli dalli and Ovis dalli stonei. O. dalli live in mountainous alpine habitats distributed across northwestern British Columbia, the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Alaska. They browse a variety of plants, such as grasses, sedges and even shrubs, such as willow, during different times of the year. They also acquire minerals to supplement their diet from mineral licks. ..." - Wikipedia: Dall Sheep
Stone Sheep
Stone Sheep
"The Stone's sheep (Ovis dalli stonei) or stone sheep is the more southern subspecies of thinhorn sheep, Ovis dalli." - Wikipedia: Stone Sheep
"The global population of Stone's sheep is primarily found in Northern British Columbia and can often be seen licking minerals along the side of the Alaska Highway in areas such as Summit Lake, Stone Mountain Provincial Park, and Muncho Lake Provincial Park." - Wikipedia: Stone Sheep
Mouflon
Mouflon
"The mouflon (Ovis gmelini) is a wild sheep native to Cyprus, and the Caspian region, including eastern Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Iran.[1] It is also found in parts of Europe. It is thought to be the ancestor of all modern domestic sheep breeds.[2][3]" - Wikipedia: Mouflon
The 5 subspecies include:
The 5 subspecies include:
"Armenian mouflon (Armenian red sheep), O. g. gmelini (Blyth, 1851): nominate subspecies; native to northwestern Iran, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. It has been introduced to Texas in the U.S.
Esfahan mouflon, O. g. isphahanica (Nasonov, 1910): Zagros Mountains, Iran.
Laristan mouflon, O. g. laristanica (Nasonov, 1909): a small subspecies, its range is restricted to some desert reserves near Lar in southern Iran.
Cyprus mouflon, O. g. ophion (Blyth, 1841): also called agrino (from the Greek Αγρινό); nearly driven to extinction during the 20th century. In 1997, about 1,200 individuals were counted. The television show Born to Explore with Richard Wiese reported 3,000 individuals on Cyprus.
Anatolian mouflon, O. g. anatolica (Arıhan, 2000), an almost extinct population of mouflon that nowadays only survives in the region of Konya, Turkey" - Wikipedia: Mouflon
Snow Sheep or Siberian Bighorn
Snow Sheep or Siberian Bighorn
"The snow sheep (Ovis nivicola), or Siberian bighorn sheep, is a species of sheep from the mountainous areas in the northeast of Siberia. One subspecies, the Putorana snow sheep (Ovis nivicola borealis), lives isolated from the other forms in the Putoran Mountains." - Wikipedia: Snow Sheep
Urial
Urial
"The urial (/ˈʊəriəl/ OOR-ee-əl; Ovis vignei), also known as arkars, shapo, or shapu, is a wild sheep native to Central and South Asia. It is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.[1]" - Wikipedia: Urial
"The vignei subspecies group consists of six individual subspecies:
Ladakh urial (Ovis vignei vignei): India (Ladakh), northern Pakistan, Kashmir
Transcaspian urial (Ovis vignei arkal): Ustjurt-Plateau (Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, northern Iran) and western Kazakhstan
Blanford's urial or Baluchistan urial (Ovis vignei blanfordi): Pakistan (Balochistan)
Bukhara urial (Ovis vignei bochariensis): Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan
Afghan urial or Turkmenian sheep (Ovis vignei cycloceros): southern Turkmenistan, eastern Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan (north Balochistan)[4]
Punjab urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis): provincial animal of Punjab, Pakistan[5]" - Wikipedia: Urial
"The urial is native to montane areas in the Pamir Mountains, Hindu Kush and Himalayas up to an elevation of 4,500 m (14,800 ft). It is distributed from northeastern Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and southwestern Kazakhstan to northern Pakistan and Ladakh in northwestern India. It prefers grassland, open woodland and gentle slopes, but also inhabits cold arid zones with little vegetation.[1]" - Wikipedia: Urial
Resources
Resources
North America
North America
Canada
Canada
Wild Sheep Initiative Disease and handling guides
USA
USA
Wild Sheep Initiative Disease and handling guides
Organizations
Organizations
Asia
Asia
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Safari Club Foundation: Kazakhstan Argali Sheep Conservation Initiative "This project seeks to promote long-term conservation of Tien Shen argali through the formation of community-based sustainable use concessions funded by the Kazakhstan Conservation Management Fee (KCMF). The project will establish wild sheep conservation management strategies based on scientific knowledge from Kazakhstan and other comparable jurisdictions."
Europe
Europe
Grand Slam Club Ovis European Chapter "is an organization of hunters/conservationists dedicated to the improvement and perpetuation of wild sheep and goat populations and wildlife conservation worldwide."
UK
UK
North America
North America
Canada
Canada
Wild Sheep Foundation "Keeping wild sheep healthy."
Wild Sheep Initiative "We are committed to the restoration and conservation of bighorn and thinhorn sheep for the benefit of future generations"
USA
USA
National Bighorn Sheep Center "To provide education and outreach for the national conservation of wild sheep, wildlife, and wildlands."
Wild Sheep Foundation "Keeping wild sheep healthy."
Wild Sheep Initiative "We are committed to the restoration and conservation of bighorn and thinhorn sheep for the benefit of future generations"
Idaho
Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation "The mission of Idaho Wild Sheep Foundation is to enhance wild sheep populations in Idaho, and with partners in adjacent states, for public enjoyment, education, and fair chase hunting; to promote professional wildlife management, and protect sportsmen’s rights."
Wyoming
Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation "Wyoming WSF was formed in 1983 and has a long record of actively working for Wyoming’s bighorn sheep, other wildlife, education, and hunter’s rights. Led by an all volunteer Board of Directors, Wyoming WSF annually raises thousands of dollars through the energy and efforts of conservation-minded sportsmen and women throughout Wyoming."
Grants & Funding
Grants & Funding
North America
North America
USA
USA
Wyoming
Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation: Grants "The committee is interested in funding projects relating to bighorn sheep that address issues and opportunities associated with habitat, disease, conservation education, trapping/transplants, mitigation of bighorn sheep interactions with species that introduce disease, research, management/population monitoring, and migration/vehicle collisions. Project proposal request with well-written narratives and evidence of strong partnerships that include matching funding have the best chance of funding. Please make proposals specific yet concise."
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