Mouflon

Ovis gmelini

Mouflon are wild sheep, usually associated with Ovis gmelini and related island or regional forms, with chestnut-brown coats, lighter saddle patches in many rams, and curved horns that can grow into dramatic arcs. They are linked to Mediterranean islands, parts of western Asia, and introduced game populations elsewhere. Mouflon are also important in discussions of domestic sheep ancestry, although different populations may carry mixed or managed histories.

Management varies from conservation herds and parks to game estates and private livestock-style holdings where legal. They need secure fencing, dry footing, grazing or browse, mineral support, and space for ram behavior during the breeding season. Parasite control and hoof condition matter in wetter climates than their ancestral rocky ranges. Records are especially useful when managers want to distinguish pure, hybrid, island, or introduced lines rather than treating every horned wild sheep as the same animal.