Springtime is one of our favorite times of the year and not just because it means a return to longer days and the absence of substantial snow pack in Wisconsin's north woods.
A special delivery was made to the park on Easter Sunday with the arrival of baby Aoudad's. We were able to take a few photographs of the babies outside shortly after their birth but then we relocated them indoors due to the extreme night time temperatures.
Aoudads, the only wild sheep indigenous to Africa, were originally native to the
Barbary coast including the areas of
Morocco, the Western Sahara, Egypt, and Sudan. These beautiful animals have been vulnerable to extinction in their native land but are making a remarkable comeback.
Aoudads have tan-colored thick, shaggy coats with a hint of red that become darker as the Aoudads grow older. They can grow to a height of 2-12/ to 3 feet at the shoulder and generally are 4-12/ to 5 feet in length. Aoudads can weigh anywhere from 150 to 300 pounds.
Mating takes place throughout the year but generally will occur from September through November so the babies will arrive in the months of March through May: the gestation period is approximately 155-160 days.
Fun Facts
Aoudads are grazers, chewing their cud. They have a four-chambered stomach that allows them to
ruminate.
A male Aoudad is called a ram.
A female Aoudad is called a ewe.
