Animal Photography - Icelandic sheep

Among the many peculiarities of the Icelandic land it is impossible not to notice the particular sheep that roam everywhere, in total freedom, in the boundless meadows of the island, especially for those who love animals. These sheep live only here and are different from those normally observable in Europe, and for this reason they show some traits that turn out to be perfect adaptations to the place in which they live.

The Icelandic sheep, Ovis aries, or íslenska sauðkindin, is a species of sheep that was imported from Norway by the Vikings around the tenth century. In more than a thousand years spent in total isolation, it has not had the chance to breed with sheep of other species, and for this reason it represents an ancient and pure stock. However, he has developed numerous absolutely characteristic traits, which represent a perfect evolutionary adaptation to the harsh climate in which he lives; the two most characteristic elements are certainly the thick wool that forms a double layer, suitable to fight the great cold and the strong wind, and the appendages (tail, ears, but also legs) extremely shortened, to reduce the surfaces exposed to frost.
It should not be surprising that, in the absence of breeding with other species, genes for these characteristics, perfectly adapted to the environment, have spread rapidly (from an evolutionary point of view 1000 years represent an extremely short time). The specimens that first manifested these traits, in fact, have certainly obtained a considerable competitive advantage over the others, gaining the possibility of spreading their genetics heritage more effectively.
Another particular adaptation is that related to the reproductive system. Every season, mothers give birth to two twins, and this is probably the best way to guarantee offspring in adequate numbers considering the relationship between farm costs and survival possibilities.

Leaving from towns, it is possible to observe the Icelandic sheep practically everywhere, from the plains to the mountains, with the only exception of the cold glaciers. The herds, in fact, are left completely free during the "warm" period, so that the breeders also travel hundreds of kilometers to gather all the animals, when they recover them for the winter.
The recovery of herds is so complicated that it gives rise to a real event, called Réttir, during which the breeders gather the whole family, and all the relatives help in the process.
Everything is made even more complicated by the social habits of the sheep: although we speak of herds, in fact, these animals are used to roam in groups of three, composed by the mother and the two twins, even at great distances from each other.
All these sheep, however, also retain the ability to live in a pack; in fact, some of these show particular colors and are identified as "head of the pack". Although from a biological point of view it is the same species, breeders tend to consider them as different strains, because the heads of the pack are the only ones able to show soecific behaviors useful to drive and defend the herd. Unfortunately they are less suitable for commercial purposes and, therefore, the breeders tend not to possess an adequate number; this has led, in recent years, to believe the whole species "endangered".

Currently these animals are reared mainly for the production of meat and wool, but breeders also try to exploit secondary products such as milk and skin. Milk, in particular, has recently found its vocation in the production of cheeses and typical dairy products. This is considered of fundamental importance by the breeders themselves, as extending as much as possible the economy linked to the Icelandic sheep is probably the only way to save it from extinction. Although today it is no longer considered in danger, in fact, it is undeniable that the farmers' attention is progressively shifting towards more productive species.
A great applause in this sense must be made towards the Icelandic administration, which applies strict rules that completely prohibit the importation of livestock other than the native one.
The hope, then, is that at least in this place the egoism and the human craving for gain will not lead to the extinction of a species that does not have and cannot have another home.

Attualmente questi animali vengono allevati prevalentemente per la produzione di carne e di lana, ma si cerca di sfruttare anche i prodotti secondari come il latte e la pelle. Il latte, in particolare, ha recentemente trovato la propria vocazione nella produzione di formaggi e prodotti caseari tipici. Questo è ritenuto di fondamentale importanza dagli allevatori stessi, in quanto estendere il più possibile l’economia legata alla pecora islandese rappresenta probabilmente l’unico modo per salvarla dall’estinzione. Nonostante ad oggi non sia più considerata in pericolo, infatti, è innegabile che l’attenzione degli allevatori si stia progressivamente spostando verso specie più produttive.
Un grande plauso in questo senso deve essere fatto nei confronti dell’amministrazione islandese, che applica rigide norme che vietano completamente l’importazione di altro bestiame che non sia quello autoctono.
La speranza, allora, è che almeno in questo luogo ancora l’egoismo e la smania di guadagno umana non portino all’estinzione di una specie che non ha e non può avere un’altra casa.