Habitat and Behaviour Barbary Sheep occupy arid hill and mountain
country across the Sahara and its fringes. They are mixed feeders and
both browse and graze. They usually live in small flocks of up to 20
individuals. An adult ram accompanies the ewes and lambs; solitary
rams are not uncommon. Mating peaks in October–November in some
areas, with lambs being dropped after 150–65 days. The usually single
lamb weighs 1.5–3 kg at birth; twins and triplets have been recorded.
Distribution and Status The Barbary Sheep once occurred through-
out the Sahara where habitat was suitable, from the Atlas ranges to the
Sudanese Red Sea Hills. Hunting and competition with livestock has
caused local extinctions of this species in a number of areas, and has
greatly reduced remaining populations. Population size is unknown, but
estimates put it at less than 30,000. Substantial populations are said to
survive in the massifs of Aïr, Termit and Ahaggar.
Conservation Areas Toubkal NP, Eastern High Atlas NP (Morocco);
Belezma NP, Tassili n’ Ajjer NP, Ahaggar NP, Djebel Aissa SF (Algeria);
Djebel Chambi NP, Djebel Bou Hedma NP, Dghoumes NP (Tunisia);
Fada-Archei FR (Chad); Aïr and Tenere NR (Niger).
WILD SHEEP Ovis orientalis
Identification Classification of the Wild Sheep is complex and
confused, but it can be divided roughly into the Urial and Mouflon
groups. In the region, especially Iran, five subspecies are recognized:
the Transcaspian Urial (O. o. arkal) and Afghan Urial (O. o. cycloceros)
from the east and north-east; and the Armenian Mouflon (O. o.
gmelini), Esfahan Mouflon (O. o. isphahanica) and Larestan Mouflon
(O. o. laristanica) from central and western areas. Interbreeding
apparently takes place where ranges meet. The only race to occur
outside Iran is the Armenian Mouflon (in extreme eastern Turkey),
and an isolated western population that is sometimes considered
a separate subspecies. It is possible that some animals may survive