The mouflon is a wild sheep that preferably inhabits dry, rocky, and hilly areas with light deciduous or mixed forests. In Slovenia, the mouflon is not a native species; it was first introduced in 1953 in the Kokra valley, today it is found in numerous hills and mid-mountain regions, most frequently at altitudes between 700 and 1200 meters. Adult males (rams) reach a weight of up to 50 kg and are recognizable by their mighty, continuously growing horns called spirals. Females (ewes) are noticeably smaller and have only small horns or none at all.
They are distinctly grazing and social animals that spend most of the year in herds, while older rams are often solitary. It feeds on grass and herbs, occasionally browsing on young shoots of shrubs and trees. Their short coat is reddish-brown in summer, becoming darker and thicker in winter. For adult males in winter, a noticeable white patch on the flanks called the saddle is characteristic.
Hikers most often spot mouflons on steep, sunny rocky slopes, where despite their stocky build they move surprisingly skillfully. Although cautious and shy by nature, they sometimes alert us to their presence with clashes between males, when the clashes of their horns echo strongly through the mountain slopes. When encountering these animals, a respectful distance is recommended so as not to disturb them unnecessarily in their environment.
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