Seasonal and monthly distribution of deaths of Cyprus Mouflon Ovis gmelini ophion

Abstract

One hundred five (54M, 37F, 13L, 1 adult of unknown sex) recently dead Cyprus mouflon were collected from November 1985 to January 1998 from Pafos forest in Cyprus. Most carcasses (37.2%) were recovered in the fall (18M, 20F, 1L) followed by winter (31.4%; 24M, 8F, 0L), Spring (22.9%; 10M, 3F, 11L), and finally Summer (8.6%; 2M, 6F, 1L). The highest mortality of rams (13 rams) occurred in January, followed by December (10 rams), November (8) (during the rutting season), and September (6). Seventeen (45.9%) females were found dead in late fall, 6 (16.2%) in early winter, 6 (16.2%) in summer, 3 (8.1%) in spring and 3 (8.1%) in early fall. During the long dry summer of Cyprus, forage is reduced in quality and quantity. The high energy requirements of the rut, poor nutrition and health problems, in combination with the first winter cold, likely leads to the increased mortality observed in late fall and early winter.