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The Mouflon

by Mark Walker

Height 1-1.3m

Weight 25-50kg

Lifespan max. 20 years

The Mouflon is the only true wild sheep species in Europe. It was introduced into Europe by prehistoric man, and originally found only on Sardinia and Corsica. The Mouflon is distinctive because of the long tightly coiled horns which the male has. The female either does not possess horns at all, or if she does, then only very short ones. The Mouflon is a handsome looking sheep, the coat is short and shiny, and it has a rich red or dark brown colour. The winter coat is much thicker than the summer coat; the Mouflon is unusual in that it moults twice a year. It is the smallest of the wild sheep species, with a height of only 1-1.3 metres. It weighs 25 to 50kg. Originally they were found in South West Asia, and they are considered the ancestors of domestic sheep.

The Mouflon lives in herds led by the females. The males however, live a solitary life away from these herds. The mating season is between November and December. The gestation period lasts for about 5 months, and the young are suckled for a further 4 or 5 months. The horns are used during the breeding period, when the males compete for females by fighting and clashing their heads together. The horns, which can weigh take 9 years to curl fully, weigh up to 5 kg. The males have specially thickened skull bones to help protect their head during the fights.

The Mouflon is at home in dry, stony mountain areas. It has been successfully introduced into many countries in Europe. Such as Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and France. It is a popular hunting animal, because of its large curled horns. They have a maximum lifespan of 20 years.