Barbary sheep
or aoudad or udad
Both males and females have powerful horns which can grow up to 85 cms. The horns sweep upward, backward and then inward and are rather heavy and wrinkled. It can sometimes be mistaken for a goat, but is distinguished from goats by its longer tail and the mane of long hair on the throat and upper parts of the forelegs. It has microscopic suction cups on the bottom of its hoofs which help it climb straight up rock structures. It can live up to 20 years.
The barbary sheep is a rock/mountain sheep native to North Africa and parts of the Sudan, but it has also been introduced to Spain and south US, which is where it is flourishing (and in fact is beginning to crowd out the desert bighorns), unlike its native country where it is becoming harder and harder to find.
Since they are too large to take cover behind most desert plants, the sheep freeze when threatened. From what I have seen whilst researching this breed, they are hunted in the US for sport…. and also in times of drought in Africa are hunted for food.
Picture credits: (1) Texas Parks & Wildlife - for more information visit their website
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