14 facts about the argeli
- The argali, or the mountain sheep is a wild sheep, which roams the highlands of Central Asia (Himalaya, Tibet, Altay).
- The name ‘Argali’ has come from the Mongolian word for ‘ram’.
- The argali is also the biggest wild sheep, standing as high as 120 cm (47 in) and weighing as much as 180 kg (400 lb).
- The males can be distinguished from the females, with the former having white scruff on the neck and a dorsal crest.
- The Pamir argali (also called Marco Polo sheep, for they were first described by that traveller) may attain more than 6 ft (1.8 m) in length.
- Both the male and female argali have horns; however, the males have more impressive horns than the females. Moreover, the horns of females are smaller than those of the males.
- Argalis are considered an endangered or threatened species throughout their entire range, due to habitat loss from overgrazing of domestic sheep and hunting.
- The animal is hunted for its meat and horns (heavily prized), both of which are used in traditional Chinese medicine (the latter are also used for making trophies).
- After their birth, the young ones remain hidden in the grass, while the mother feeds them.
- The animal prefers to live in herds of single sex and only comes together during the mating season. However, the males will fight with one another, using horns, for the female.
- The sheep has long legs that help it in traveling swiftly from place to place and also in fleeing from predators in the rough areas of mountains.
- The lifespan of an argali, in its natural habitat, is around 17 years.
- The sheep can give out a warning hiss and alarming whistle, by blowing air through its nostrils.
- The nine different subspecies of argali differ from each other, in terms of appearance as well as range.
