Quick answer
Urials (Ovis vignei) are listed in our guides as Vulnerable. That IUCN-style label describes global extinction risk and can differ from national lists — habitat loss and human pressure still decide local survival.
Key takeaway
Urials (Ovis vignei) are listed in our guides as Vulnerable. That IUCN-style label describes global extinction risk and can differ from national lists — habitat loss and human pressure still decide local survival.
Urial conservation status
Urial (Ovis vignei) is recorded here as Vulnerable. Global categories summarise extinction risk; regional populations can be safer or worse than the headline label.
Threats facing urials
Habitat loss around Dry hills, mountains, and grassland, hunting or persecution, climate pressure, and conflict with people are common drivers. Exact ranking of threats varies by region.
Outlook for Urial populations
Where monitoring exists, trends track protected-area quality and enforcement. Fragmented groups need corridors and genetic exchange to avoid local extinction.
What actually helps
Support verified conservation programmes, cut demand for illegal wildlife products, and protect habitat. Tourism helps only when operators follow ethical wildlife standards.
Habitat and diet
Urials favor open, dry country, from rolling grasslands to rugged foothills below the treeline. They are grazers that feed mainly on grasses and herbs, relying on keen eyesight and speed across open ground to escape wolves and other predators.
Pressure and protection
Urials are listed as Vulnerable, with populations reduced by hunting for their impressive horns and by competition with domestic livestock for grazing. Protected areas and regulated conservation programs are important to their survival.
Sources
Urial FAQs
Are urials endangered?
Urials (Ovis vignei) are listed in our guides as Vulnerable. That IUCN-style label describes global extinction risk and can differ from national lists — habitat loss and human pressure still decide local survival.
What is the scientific name of the urial?
Ovis vignei — used in research and conservation listings for urials.
What do urials eat?
Urials are described as herbivores, with seasonal and regional variation in Dry hills, mountains, and grassland.
Where do urials live?
They are associated with Dry hills, mountains, and grassland. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of urials?
Listed in our guides as Vulnerable. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.