Tag Archives: Barbary sheep

The Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia)

The Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia), also known as the arrui, is a species of wild sheep native to the arid regions of North Africa, including the Atlas Mountains and the Sahara Desert. It was introduced into Spain in the 1970s for hunting purposes. It has since established populations in several regions of the country, such as Andalusia, Castilla-La Mancha, and Murcia feeding on grasses, bushes, and lichens.

The largest free-range population in Spain is found in the Southeast of Spain, mostly from the Sierra Espuña to the Sierra Cazorla.

In Spanish the barbary sheep is called arruí, muflón del Atlas or carnero de berbería.

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