The Urial, also known as the Arkars or Shapo, is a wild sheep species found in Central Asia, primarily in the mountainous regions of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Tajikistan. They are typically found in high altitudes of up to 16,000 feet, inhabiting grassy slopes, rocky terrain, and alpine meadows.
Urials are well adapted to their mountainous habitats and are excellent climbers, with sharp hooves and long, curved horns that can reach up to 1 meter in length. They have a reddish-brown coat that fades to a lighter color on their undersides, and both males and females have horns, although those of males are larger.
Urials are herbivorous and feed on a variety of grasses, herbs, and leaves. They are also an important prey species for predators such as wolves and snow leopards.
While the Urial is currently classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN, its populations are threatened by habitat loss, hunting, and competition for resources with domestic livestock.