Some experts do not define the bighorn sheep as a special species, but consider it a subspecies of the bighorn sheep, but, according to others, it is a separate species of artiodactyls, part of the genus of sheep. It lives in Eastern Siberia and is a commonly encountered animal that is not threatened by extermination or significant decline in numbers due to human activity or climate change.
Appearance and characteristics
The snow sheep is an animal of medium size, with a dense, strong build, a small, rather “dry” head with short ears, located on a short and thick neck. The horns of males are large, wide at the base, twisted in a steep spiral with the ends directed outward. Females have shorter, smaller horns that are not spiral-shaped.
Animals have short, massive limbs. Males differ in weight from 56 to 150 kilograms, height from 76 to 112 centimeters when measured at the withers. Females are smaller - from 33 to 68 kilograms, 76-100 centimeters tall.
The largest snow chubuks live in Chukotka and Kamchatka.
Types of bighorn sheep
The following types of bighorn sheep are distinguished, which are also often found in bighorn or chibouk:
- Okhotsky.
- Koryak.
- Putoransky.
- Kolyma.
- Kamchatsky.
- Yakut.
- Apple.
- Kodarsky (isolatedly living on the Kodar plateau of the Olekma Highlands).
This classification refers to the distribution of artiodactyl species on the ground, since they do not have a single habitat - the places where these animals are found are located in a mosaic. This means that individual groups formed and developed in different places with slightly different conditions, and therefore formed different subspecies. However, the differences are not so significant that they make a significant difference.
Range and habitats
Bighorn sheep are considered mountain animals, but they do not live directly on mountain peaks, but stay within the vegetation zone, that is, they do not rise above 1300 meters. The main habitat is mountain tundra and foothills with a relatively mild climate and snow cover of up to 30-40 centimeters.The southern border of the range runs along the Aldan Highlands, in the west - along the mountains beyond Vitim. The northern and eastern borders practically coincide with the coast of Chukotka, the Bering Strait and the Kamchatka Peninsula. The snow sheep lives in mountainous areas along the largest East Siberian rivers, on the Putorana plateau.
Modern numbers, movement
At the moment, the total number of bighorn sheep of all varieties ranges from 40 to 100 thousand individuals. It is difficult to give an exact figure due to the scattering of individual herds over vast, inaccessible territories and the complexities of the terrain and climate.
Snowy animals do not roam long distances, although they constantly move within their range in search of food. Despite their physique and short legs, bighorn sheep are excellent runners, although they are not very fast. They easily jump and move over rough terrain. In cold weather, they have to travel considerable distances, as this is associated with the search for food. Under a layer of snow, they have to collect the sparse vegetation of the tundra, so they have to walk much more than in the summer, when there is a lot of fresh grass and foliage.
The main features of the adaptability of bighorn sheep are their “camouflage” coloration. The animals' fur comes in various shades of brown, gray and black, making them inconspicuous against the backdrop of rocks or bare tundra. However, snow-covered surfaces instantly reveal their location to predators, so we can only talk about relative fitness.
The physique of the Chubuks is suitable for moving through mountainous terrain, rocks, for overcoming slopes, uneven areas, and cliffs. They can jump up to 3 meters, are distinguished by their endurance and adaptability to modest pastures and low temperatures.
What do they eat?
To survive in harsh conditions, bighorn sheep require abundant, nutritious food. That is why the body of these animals is adapted to absorb not only tender fresh grass, but also coarser dry shoots, old vegetation, branches, foliage, moss, bark of bushes and trees that they can reach.
In autumn, bighorn sheep successfully feed on berries and mushrooms, not disdaining old, overripe and wormy ones. The eaten larvae and bugs provide excellent protein “feeding” in severe times of famine.
Natural enemies
In nature, the main danger for bighorn sheep is their habitat with unpredictable weather changes, fog, snow storms, extreme cold, winds and humidity. Animals can also find themselves in dangerous situations, falling off cliffs, falling into rivers or getting stuck in swamps. A lot of trouble is caused by the vile, which literally eats all living things alive.
But all of this applies to natural threats that bighorn sheep have successfully learned to work around and avoid. Only wolves and wolverines hunt artiodactyls, but bighorn sheep are not very easy or simple prey. They still need to be tracked and caught, so most often the victims are old, sick individuals, pregnant females and weak young animals.
The main predator threatening the numbers of protected bighorn sheep species is humans.The indigenous peoples of Siberia and the North took a reasonable approach to hunting, prohibiting hunting of females and cubs and limiting consumption to certain times of the year, rationing the number of animals killed.
When hunting ceased to be a means of subsistence and became entertainment, the number of sheep fell sharply. Because of this, Putorana bighorn sheep are included in the Red Book, and the shooting of some varieties of Yakut bighorn sheep is strictly limited.
Reproduction and offspring
In summer, when there is an abundance of food, the herd can reach 30-40 individuals. During the breeding season, in mid-November, it is divided into groups of 6 females and 2-3 males. The female’s pregnancy lasts up to 5 months. To give birth, she leaves the herd and retires to a specially prepared secluded den, where she gives birth to one cub.
Feeding lasts a month, after which the lamb becomes independent and switches to feeding on “adult” food.
Sheep reach sexual maturity at 7 years of age. Due to competition, the young animals are expelled from the herd and form their own group.
Work to preserve the species
Currently, only two subspecies of bighorn sheep are protected: the Yakut, which is not threatened with complete destruction, but needs protection, and the Putoran, living in the reserve of the same name on the Putoran plateau. This is a rare animal, so any action against it is a violation of the law.
The Yakut variety of bighorn sheep lives on the Chukotka Peninsula. Its numbers suffered mainly from negative weather conditions, developed reindeer husbandry and disturbance by human activity, so for protection it is enough to provide the herds with comfortable living conditions, and their numbers will begin to grow.Experiments have been carried out with Putorana sheep on crossing with other varieties and species of similar animals, but genetic discrepancies have so far prevented the development of a viable and viable hybrid.
Bighorn sheep in human economic activity
One of the reasons for the decline in the number of bighorn sheep was intensive human economic activity. The expansion of arable fields, pastures and farmland increases competition and leads to a decline in wildlife numbers.
To protect bighorn sheep, it is important not only to combat poaching, but also to create protective zones, reserves, conduct educational work and preserve the gene pool of rare species in specially created reserves.
Nutritional quality
Bighorn sheep meat is lean, somewhat tough and stringy, but tasty. It has virtually no differences in nutritional value and composition from the meat of domestic sheep, so it is prepared according to similar recipes. It can be fried, stewed, baked, served with a variety of side dishes, and also pickled. The flesh of young lambs has ideal taste and tenderness. Snow sheep are graceful animals that need human protection and patronage to maintain their numbers.
