BIGHORN SHEEP

Bighorn sheep

Abstract

In this study we try to explore the issues of restoration of bighorn sheep. The main focus of the research is on survival of bighorn sheep and various factors that are causing decline in the population of bighorn sheep. The research also analyzes many aspects of restoration of bighorn sheep and tries to gauge its effect on whole process of restoration.

Introduction

The world in which we live is full of wonders. Different amazing creatures around us make our world even more amusing and astonishing. One such astonishing creation is of kingdom of animals. Different members of animal kingdom possess unique qualities and this uniqueness of each and every animal keeps the liveliness and element of creativity in our world. This unique aspect of an animal makes us feel in wonder. For instance, mammal bighorn sheep, this creature can be considered as a wilder version of sheep. There are different aspects of this sheep that make this specie unique. This paper would reveal various facts about bighorn sheep, its habitat; its inclusion in the listing of endangered species list, reasons behind inclusion in the endangered list and various other facets.

About Bighorn sheep

Bighorn sheep are descendants of mountain sheep. Bighorn sheep reside in rocky mountainous areas and desserts of Southern California. They usually are found indifferent light and dark shades of brown and grey. One of the concerned factors about bighorn sheep is their continuous decline in population.

Decline in the subpopulation of bighorn sheep

In the middle of 1800 decline of bighorn sheep occurred and the main reason behind this declination was the heavy human settlement of the west. This development of human in the habitat of bighorn sheep gave rise to various construction processes. There are no official records of the population of bighorn sheep related to past but according to an estimate the size of historic population was around 1000 or more. In the starting of 1900 about half of the subpopulations were vanished and in the middle of 1900, introduction of domestic sheep, various diseases and hunting activities declined the population of bighorn sheep. This pattern of declining of subpopulation did not stop and subpopulation of bighorn sheep declined to five populations in 1950 whereas, in 1970 it further declined to two. (USFW, 2000)

Enlisting of bighorn in endangered species' list

By keeping in view this continuous declination in the subpopulation of bighorn sheep a proposal was presented in 1992 to include bighorn sheep in the list of endanger species. In accordance with the Act of endangered species bighorn sheep was included in the list of endangered species in 1998.

Reasons of including bighorn sheep in the list of endangered species

Department of U.S fish and wildlife service explained the reasons behind the enlisting of bighorn sheep as endangered species. According to U.S fish and wild life service a larger portion of bighorn sheep is in danger of disappearance due to several diseases, lack of recruitment of lamb, loss of habitat and predation coinciding with low population ...