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- Barbary Sheep
Barbary Sheep
Artiodactyla, Bovidae
Ammotragus lervia
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The Barbary Sheep lives in the African desert. Their struggle over food and water with domesticated animals has put them on the brink of extinction.
Body length: 130-165cm
Tail length: 15-25cm
Weight: 100-145kg
(Source: Doubutsu Sekai-isan* Red Data Animals Kodansha) (*World Animal Heritage)
The Barbary Sheep lives in the deserts of North Africa.
They eat vegetation such as grass, tree leaves, and fruits. Vegetation is scarce in the desert, so the Barbary Sheep can't afford to be picky.
The hair on their chest grows very long. During sand storms, they bury their noses in their chest hair to keep sand from entering their nostrils.
Find out more about the Barbary Sheep!
Troubled by their friends?!
The Barbary Sheep has the features of both sheep and goat, with a goat-like horn but no beard. They live in the deserts of Africa in small packs formed around a single male. For many years, humans have hunted them for their skin and meat. But their biggest threat today comes from members of their own kind.
Population rising in the United States but...
The number of domesticated sheep and goat being set out to pasture in the Barbary Sheep's habitat continues to rise. These domesticated animals have taken the desert's scarce supply of vegetation and water, putting the Barbary Sheep in danger of extinction. And while their near-wild population has increased on the North American continent, the reason they were brought here was to serve as game for sport hunting. People have raised concerns about pleasure hunting for an animal that is endangered in Africa.
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