Yellow sheep are distributed at the junction of Mongolia, Russia and China. Every winter, in the snow-capped Arshan of Inner Mongolia, a group of special guests will be welcomed - tens of thousands of yellow sheep. They come from afar, and when they arrive, they wander around the snowy mountains to feed. It was like coming back to your own home. Why do they come to China from abroad?
In the winter of 2024, as in previous years, Arshan, Inner Mongolia will be lively after winter. Because tens of thousands of yellow sheep came here from Mongolia. The arrival of the yellow sheep injected vitality into Arshan.
Arshan is a beautiful place, located in the eastern part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, straddling the southwestern foothills of the Great Khing'an Mountains. It shares a border with Inner Mongolia. It is rich in forest resources, and the green vegetation coverage rate reaches 98%. It's a paradise for animals.
The forestry department has carried out real-time monitoring of the incoming yellow sheep. And in order to ensure that the yellow sheep has enough food to eat. The forestry department stocked large quantities of food wherever the yellow sheep went. For most of us, yellow sheep are unfamiliar.
Yellow sheep is also called Mongolian antelope, don't look at the sheep in its name, you think it's a sheep, in fact, they are not sheep. It is a kind of antelope of the family Bovidae, the genus Protoantelope.
Mongolian antelopes have a round and blunt head and long, pointed ears. Small ears are hairy. Big black eyes. Comes with smiling lips.
They are usually between 100-150 cm in length and generally weigh 20-35 kg. The limbs are slender, the body is slender, and he walks and jumps.
The Mongolian antelope's fur in summer is relatively short and reddish-brown. In winter, the hair is thicker and lighter in color to keep out the cold. The hair on the buttocks is white and has a heart shape, which is very cute.
Mongolian antelope is mainly distributed in Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and other places on the mainland, as well as Mongolia and Russia. Grasslands and semi-desert steppes in plateaus, plains, hilly areas are their main habitats.
They prefer arid, well-opened grasslands. These areas are rich in food resources and suitable living environments. The Mongolian antelope is timid and alert, and often looks around when eating. If a natural predator appears, it will flee quickly.
The Mongolian antelope is a vegetarian and herbivore, feeding mainly on grass and young leaves. They are very thirsty and can go days without water.
Why did the yellow sheep "smuggle" into China
Yellow sheep are social animals, and only females who are pregnant in July live alone. There will be 1-3 pups in a litter. Raised by females alone, yellow sheep are born to walk, grow rapidly, and are able to reach sexual maturity at the age of 1-2 years.
During the cold winter months, when the climate is harsh and food is scarce, the Mongolian antelope begins to migrate seasonally. They will gather in large groups to find places with suitable climate and abundant food resources. When you reach your destination, you will become a small group. There are as few as 5-10 and as many as 80-90 in groups.
The Arshan forests on the mainland are rich in resources and food resources, and when the steppes of Mongolia and Russia are short of food, yellow sheep will migrate to the mainland in search of more food.
The Mongolian antelope has an important place in the culture of the continent. In Tibetan culture, the yellow sheep is regarded as a mascot. Yellow sheep is very popular on the mainland.
In Russia and Inner Mongolia, pastoralism is well developed. Yellow sheep and livestock compete for limited food resources. Especially during the winter months, when food is scarce, competition is even more intense. So that the livestock do not have enough food.
Therefore, the yellow sheep was considered a pest by the local herdsmen, and in this way, the yellow sheep was on the "hunt list" of Mongolia and Russia, and faced a large-scale hunt.
Animals are also spiritual. China's goodwill towards them can also be felt.
For abundant food resources and a safe living environment. Huangyang chose to migrate to China. At the same time, the arrival of yellow sheep is also conducive to the reconstruction and diversity of the mainland grassland ecosystem.