* Threatened or Endangered
Mouflon *
: Ovis musimon
: Mammal
: originated in Southwest Asia, introduced to the islands of Corsica, Sardinia, Rhodes, and Cyprus
: Grasses, bushes and leaves
: Weight 50 - 110 lbs.
: Rare in the islands where it was introduced thousands of years ago, they are thriving in more recent transplanted populations in central Europe, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania
• While rare in the islands where they were introduced thousands of years ago, they are thriving in more recent transplanted populations in central Europe, including Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania.
• This wild sheep is thought to be the wild ancestor to all domestic sheep.
• Mouflons are the smallest wild sheep and the only wild sheep found in Europe.
• In 2001, a mouflon was cloned successfully and lived over seven months, making it the first clone of an endangered mammal to survive beyond infancy. Though somewhat controversial, this could prove to be an effective tool in the future for helping to save endangered species.