Aoudad

FUN FACTS

• Aoudad sheep go by many names including aoudad goat, barbary sheep, waddan, arui, and arruis.

• Despite being native to the rocky mountains of North Africa, they are more likely to be found in Texas than they are in Africa.

• It is believed that their population in Texas has increased 1800 percent since 1963 to 25,000.
  Aoudad sheep can jump up to 7 feet high from a standstill!

• Their coat gets darker with age, but you can expect a light sandy-brown color (as they come from sandy mountains in Africa).

• Aoudads have long hair hanging from their chests and forelegs that is referred to as “chaps.” These chaps allow them to be taxidermied into beautiful half-body mounts.

• They are most active at dawn and dusk to avoid the heat of day.

• Aoudad sheep create dirt beds high in the mountains to sleep on.

• The species are more closely related to wild goats than to sheep.