Wildlife In India

Sheep & Goats

The Shapoo or Urial

The Shapoo or Urial : Known as Shapoo in Ladakh or Urial in Punjab, this wild sheep lives under the varied climatic conditions. There are three different varieties of wild sheep, the three geographical races are distinguished by colour, size, and horns. The Ladakh shapoo stands about 3 feet at shoulders. During summer season, its coat is gray or fawn which changes into mixtures of gray and brown during winters.

The sheep inhabits in open valleys, hillside and grassy mountain slope at moderate elevations. It is steady, active sheep and is always alert. The old male lives separtely from group except the breeding season. This wild sheep freely crosses with the domestic. The Ladakh Urial sheep are found from Astor to Zanskar range in Ladakh and in Tibet region. The Punjab range of this wild sheep is found in Jhelum salt range and Northern parts.

The Nyan or Tibetan Sheep

It is the largest of old wild sheep and is found in the Himalayas and highlands of Central Asia. The variety of sheep varies in different areas in form of its horn, colour and size. The sheep stands up to 4' at shoulders and seems like antelope in built.
The babies are of light brown colour whereas the adult have white head and a white ruff developed around the neck which is shed with the buildup coat. The sheep ascends to higher level during the summer at the height of 15000'. And in winters descend at the shelter of lower valleys. During the spring, male & female live separately and rejoin in the late autumn which is the beginning of mating season. The sheep are mainly found in the desolate plains and sand hills which can be extremely hot in summer and freezing cold in winters. The Sheep are plentiful in Ladakh & Tibet and are occasionally seen in Spit, Nepal, Kumaun and extreme north of Sikkim.

Bharal

Bharal holds the place between sheep and goats. Bharal is not bearded and doesn't have goat - like smell. It has rounded and smooth horns with curves backward. It stands 3' at shoulders and its powerfully built. Bharal weighs 120 to 150 pounds which varies to different time of the years. It has got a brown colour head suffused with salty blue. It has got a dense coat. The face and chest of old Bharal is black and the black stripes run along the middle of each fringes and down the front of legs. During summer, Bharal are found at 16000' and rarely below than 12000' during the winters. They are found between freeze and snow lines with abundance of grass. The Bharal are found in most inaccessible places. They are normally seen in large flock of almost 200 in numbers. Bharal is found in Tibet, Ladakh, Sikkim and Nepal.

The Asiatic Ibex

There are various geographical races of Asiatic Ibex. It is species which closely related with alpine Ibex. It is relatively larger in size than its cousin. It stands up to 42" to its shoulders. It is a swift Goat with great beard and thick coat. As this animal is found in freezing climate, therefore dense under fur or wool has developed to its waist . The colour of the Ibex is variable. During winter, its coat is yellowish, which changes into dark brown with irregular patches during summer . This goat weighs up to 200 pounds. This goat is normally seen at higher level, well above the sea line with the flocks numbering from 20-50. During spring and early summer, males and females live together but later in summer, they separate and rejoin in October. The Himalayan Ibex is found on both the sides of Himalayan ranges.

The Marchopolo Sheep

The Marchopolo sheep has the magnificent horns deeply wrinkled with colour of gold, ivory. Adult sheep can stand up to 12 hands and weigh up to 250 pounds. During the winter, this sheep has got creamy white head, legs and belly. This colour makes the animal almost invisible except while they are in movement . Its choice of food is limited to bunches of wiry grasses and later to the species of wild onion. After hard winter conditions many die due to starvation. The breeding habits are quite similar to other Sheep.