Hunting Barbary Sheep in South Africa

IDENTIFICATION: Barbary Sheep are a sandy-brown color, darkening with age, with a slightly lighter underbelly and a darker line along the back. Higher up on the legs are a uniform reddish-brown or grayish-brown as well as the outer part of the legs.

They have shaggy hair on the throat (extending down to the chest in males) and a sparse mane. Their horns have a triangular cross section.

The horns curve outwards, backwards, then inwards, and reach up to 50 cm (20 in). The horns are fairly smooth, with slight ridges evident at the base as the animal matures.

HABITAT: Barbary sheep are found in arid mountainous areas where they graze and browse grasses, bushes, and lichens. They are able to obtain all their moisture from food, but if water is available, they drink it and wallow in it. Barbary sheep are crepuscular: active in the early morning and late afternoon and tend to rest in the heat of the day.

BREEDING: They tend to give 1-3 lambs which are normally born in March/April. Their gestation period is around 5-5.5 months.

DIET: Feeds on leaves, pods or fruit.