urial

The urial, also known as the arkhar or shapo, is a wild sheep of the genus Ovis. It is commonly treated as Ovis vignei, though some classifications place it as a subspecies of Ovis orientalis. The species is native to parts of Western and South Asia and is characterized by its horned, hardy adult males and more modest horned females.

Its range includes Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and portions of northern India, with additional populations in adjacent regions of Turkmenistan and the broader Hindu Kush–Zagros area. Urials occupy mountainous and semi-arid habitats, from foothills and rocky slopes to scrubby woodlands, typically at elevations from about 300 to 2,000 meters. They favor rugged terrain offering cover and escape routes.

Physically, urials display a general coat of pale brown to gray, with a lighter underbelly. Males are larger and possess long, curved horns that extend outward and backward; females have shorter horns and a less robust build. Socially, they are gregarious outside the breeding season, forming mixed-sex and bachelor groups, and they typically breed in late winter to early spring, with lambs appearing in spring.

Conservation status for the urial is Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Threats include habitat loss from agricultural expansion and development, hunting for meat and hides, and population fragmentation due to human infrastructure. Protected areas and targeted conservation programs in several countries aim to preserve remaining populations.

Regional subspecies are recognized, including the Punjab urial (often cited as Ovis vignei punjabiensis), found in Pakistan and parts of India.