mouflon

The mouflon is a wild sheep native to the mountainous regions of the Mediterranean, with populations in southeastern Europe, western Asia, and on islands such as Sardinia and Corsica. It is widely regarded as one of the ancestors of domestic sheep, contributing to the gene pool of many modern breeds. Taxonomic treatment varies among authorities; some classify mouflon as a wild form of Ovis orientalis (or Ovis gmelini), while the Corsican and Sardinian populations are often treated as subspecies of the domestic sheep (for example Ovis aries musimon and Ovis aries sardoniensis) or as distinct subspecies of Ovis orientalis.

Mouflon are medium-sized sheep. Males (rams) have large, backward-curving horns that can be heavy, while females (ewes) have shorter horns or none. The coat is typically brown to reddish, with seasonal variation in color and thickness that offers camouflage in scrubby habitat. The animal’s appearance can vary by region and subspecies.

They inhabit rugged, hilly or mountainous terrain with open woodlands, scrub, or rocky outcrops. They favor steep, broken country that provides escape cover and geothermal mineral sources. Their diet consists of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, and they browse seasonal vegetation as available. They form small to mid-sized herds, with breeding seasons in autumn and a gestation period around five months; lambs are usually born in spring.

Conservation status varies by population. Globally, mouflon are not universally listed as threatened, but several local populations are fragmented or affected by habitat loss, hunting, and wildfires. Sardinia and Corsica host protected populations managed to maintain their numbers.