Wolves May Rein in Formerly Rare Sheep
[AFP 2006-02-17]

[Photo] AP Photo/Tom Uhlman | Formerly Rare Sheep: A baby blue sheep rubs heads with its mother. Under protection in China since 1988, the sheep have been multiplying beyond all previous forecasts, leading China to consider employing wolves to preempt a population explosion.


Feb. 17, 2006 ??? China's efforts to protect its wild blue sheep have been so successful that it now plans to employ wolves to preempt a looming population explosion, state media said this week.

The wild blue sheep, once teetering on the brink of extinction, has lived a sheltered life at the Helan Mountain Natural Reserve in northwest China since 1988, multiplying beyond all previous forecasts, the China Daily reported.

During their 18 years under protection at the reserve, sheep numbers have increased from 1,200 to more than 15,000, suddenly putting much of the reserve's vegetation on the endangered list, according to the paper.

"We think we need to introduce wolves to help control the sheep population," said Cui Duoying, a zoologist at the Huadong Normal University in Shanghai.

"The ecological equilibrium of the area has been seriously affected."

Within the protected confines of the natural reserve, the sheep have almost no natural enemies, but officials plan to change that with the introduction of wolves.

However, experts worry that the fierce carnivores, presented with an all-you-can-eat sheep menu, will themselves start to multiply out of control, presenting the area with a new population problem, the paper said.

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Name: Bharal, aka Blue Sheep (Pseudois nayaur)

Primary Classification: Caprinae (Sheep, Goats and Relatives)

Location: The Tibetan Plateau

Habitat: Mountain slopes, ranging from hot desert to cold, windy slopes.

Diet: A variety of grasses supplemented with shrubs and forbs.

Size: Around 4.25 ft in length and 120 lbs in weight.

Description: Grayish brown to slate blue in color; dark stripe separates upper parts from white lower parts; horns that sweep up and out; stocky body; broad chest; robust shoulders; stout legs.

Cool Facts: There is little cover in its habitat, and it has excellent camouflage, so it will freeze and "melt" into the background when approached.

Conservation Status: Not listed by the IUCN.