Urial

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Phylum: Chordata

• Class: Mammalia

• Order: Artiodactyla

• Family: Bovidae

• Genus: Ovis

• Species: Ovis vignei (Urial)

The urial is a wild sheep species closely related to mouflons, argali, and domestic sheep. It’s sometimes called the Shapo or Arkhar in different regions.

Geographic Distribution

Urials are native to Central and South Asia, especially:

• Pakistan

• Northern India

• Afghanistan

• Iran

• Kazakhstan

• Western Himalayas

They live in open grassy hills, lower mountains, and dry rocky slopes, places too steep or harsh for other large animals.

Physical Characteristics

• Males: Large, with impressive spiral horns up to 1 meter long

• Females: Smaller, with shorter or no horns

• Coat: Reddish-brown to grayish with a white underbelly

• Size:

  • Height: 80–100 cm at the shoulder

  • Weight: 40–90 kg

They have excellent balance and agility, allowing them to climb steep cliffs and escape predators.

Image showing a male urial (Source: Dakota Zoo)

Common Names

• Urial

• Shapo (in some local regions)

• In Pashto or Dari: Arghali

• In Urdu: Markhor’s cousin (due to similar habitats)

Major Subspecies of Urial

There are several subspecies of urials, based on region and horn shape:

1. Punjab Urial (Ovis vignei punjabiensis)

• Found in northern Pakistan

• Brown coat with lighter belly

• Short, tight spiral horns

Image Showing Punjab urial (Source: Trophy hunting)

2. Ladakh Urial (Ovis vignei vignei)

• Found in Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir (India)

• Lighter-colored coat due to cold habitat

• Strong climber in high elevations

Image showing a Ladakh urial standing on a snowy ridge (Source: Ju-leh Adventures)

3. Afghan Urial (Ovis vignei cycloceros)

• Lives in the arid mountains of Afghanistan and southern Turkmenistan

• Reddish coat, long curved horns

• Often spotted in dry, desert-like cliffs

Image showing an afghan urial resting (Source: Pinterest)

Diet & Behavior

• Herbivores: Eat grasses, herbs, shrubs, and dry plants

• Active during early morning and late afternoon

• Live in small herds, females and young together; males often roam alone

• During the mating season (rut), males fight using their horns

Threats to Urials

Sadly, Urials face many threats in the wild:

• Poaching for horns and meat

• Habitat loss due to farming, roads, and mining

• Competition with livestock for grazing

• Diseases from domestic sheep and goats

Conservation Status

• The urial is listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN

• Some subspecies (like the Punjab urial) are endangered

• Protected in national parks and wildlife reserves, especially in Pakistan and northern India

• Trophy hunting (under strict rules) is used in some regions to raise conservation funds

Fun facts about Urial

• Their horns never stop growing, they curl more with age

• They are excellent jumpers and climbers

• Males can clash heads so hard during mating season that it echoes in the mountains

• They are shy and alert, very hard to approach in the wild

 Urial vs Domestic Sheep

For wildlife advice or conservation education, contact us at Doctor Hulk Veterinary Hospital, or call us through 0814397614.