On Monday, April 26, 2010, a female desert bighorn sheep was born at the Los Angeles Zoo.
The healthy newborn lamb is on exhibit with her parents in the North American area of the Zoo.

As male desert bighorn sheep mature, they develop massive spiraled horns that may add up to
one-third of their total body weight. Females have much smaller horns. However, both sexes have excellent vision and hearing as well as an innate ability for climbing rugged terrain.

In the wild, a herd is comprised of females and their lambs. When the males reach the age of two, they separate from the herd and set off by themselves in bachelor groups.

Desert bighorn sheep are native to the high mountains and deserts of the south western United States and northern Mexico. Preferring to reside in places with rocky terrain and access to water, they completely avoid forested areas. Bighorn sheep can be seen in our local San Gabriel Mountains, though their population is threatened by many factors such as the recent Station Fire. 

“This species is considered threatened across its range,” says, Curator of Mammals Jeff Holland.“Population is declining due to drought, predators, disease from domestic sheep and goats, and an inability to move from one mountain range to another because of over development by humans.”

The L.A. Zoo participates in a cooperative program alongside the San Diego Wild Animal Park, Phoenix Zoo and Living Desert in Palm Desert, Calif. to ensure the population of these majestic and symbolic animals. 

The desert bighorn sheep will be available to the media on Wednesday, May 5 from 9:30 A.M. till 12 P.M. If you plan on filming these animals, please arrive early as they are most active in the morning. Park in the Zoo’s main lot and proceed to the bus circle where a cart will transport you to their habitat. To request photos or RSVP please call (323) 644-4273.

Please click to read our bighorn sheep fact sheet!