# Are Urials Endangered?

> Are urials endangered? Status Vulnerable, main threats, and what protection means.

- **Species:** Urial (*Ovis vignei*)
- **Conservation status:** Vulnerable
- **Diet:** Herbivore
- **Habitat:** Dry hills, mountains, and grassland
- **Lifespan:** Around 12 years
- **Top speed:** Up to 60 km/h (37 mph)
- **Canonical HTML:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/urial/are-urial-endangered/
- **Parent profile:** https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/urial/
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-07-16

## Quick answer

The urial is a wild sheep of Central and South Asia, recognized by the reddish coat and the dark neck ruff of mature males, which also grow large curved horns. Urials live in dry mountains and grasslands, graze in herds, and are considered an ancestor of domestic sheep.

## Who should skip this page

Skip this if you need the full biology — use the [Urial profile](https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/urial/) instead.

## A true wild sheep

The urial is one of the wild sheep from which domestic sheep are thought to descend. Males are striking, with curved horns that can sweep back over a meter and a long bib of dark hair on the throat and chest during the breeding season.

## Help protect the Urial

The urial is listed as Vulnerable, with habitat loss the leading threat to its future.

[Donate to protect habitat](https://worldanimalrescuenetwork.org/appeals/habitats/)

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Source: Global Animal Guide (https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/urial/are-urial-endangered/). Licensed CC BY-NC 4.0 — free for non-commercial reuse with attribution.