The Urial is a wild sheep with big curved horns and a reddish‐brown coat. It lives in high hills and is very good at climbing rocky mountains. Kids can learn about its loud whistles and amazing jumps!
Watch a Urial in Action!
See how this mountain sheep runs, climbs, and uses its horns when rams play with each other!
What Is a Urial?
The Urial is a type of wild sheep that lives far from farms. It has:
- Big curved horns on males and small horns on females
- A reddish‐brown coat and white on its face and legs
- A group life with other sheep and a special order in their herds
Where Do Urials Live?
Urials live in high places where it’s rocky and grassy. They can live at almost 4,500 m (14,800 ft) high in the mountains of:
- Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan
- Grasslands, open woods, gentle mountain slopes
What Do Urials Eat?
These sheep eat only plants. They munch on:
- Grasses and leaves in spring and summer
- Shrubs and dried plants in winter
How Big Is a Urial?
An adult Urial is about as tall as a medium‐sized dog (80–90 cm / 31–35 inches tall at the shoulder). It can weigh as much as a teenage child (40–90 kg / 88–198 lb).
What Sound Do Urials Make?
Urials make loud snorts or whistles to warn friends when they see danger. When rams fight, they clash horns and sometimes snort loudly too.
Cool Urial Facts
- Urials are the wild ancestors of today’s farm sheep.
- They can leap up to 2.5 m (8 ft) between rocks!
- Horns can grow nearly 100 cm (39 in) long on males.
- They remember faces—friends and family—for years.
- Rams mostly size each other up and only gently bump.
- Lambs weigh about as much as a school book (2.4–4.6 kg / 5–10 lb).
- They can climb steep slopes to escape predators like snow leopards.
Printables and Coloring Fun
Have fun with Urial crafts!
Urials in the Eco-System
Urials help the mountain land stay healthy:
- They eat plants and help new ones grow.
- They are food for animals like snow leopards and wolves.
- There are about 2,500 left, and they are called “vulnerable.”
Ask a Grown‑Up To Help You Learn More
Here are some places you and a grown‑up can find more fun Urial facts:
Fun Questions About Urials
An Urial is a wild sheep with curved horns that lives in mountains.
They live in steep grassy mountains of Central and South Asia.
They are plant eaters—they eat grasses, leaves, and shrubs.
As tall as a medium dog and as heavy as a child (40–90 kg).
They snort or whistle when they are scared and clash horns when they fight.
They are labeled “vulnerable” with around 2,500 left in the wild.
Yes! They are great climbers on rocky mountain slopes.
This is how they show who is strongest and choose a leader.
Ways to Donate and Support Urials
You can help Urials by supporting groups that protect mountains and stop illegal hunting. Your care helps them stay safe!
Sources: Wikipedia, Live Science, Creative Commons, Britannica.com and Freesound.org
Alphabetical list of animals that start with U
A full alphabetical list of popular animal names that begin with the letter U for toddlers and preschool kids.
- Uakari
- Umbrellabird
- Unau (sloth)
- Unicorn (mythical)
- Urchin
- Urial
- Uromastyx
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