Wild sheep and goat species including bighorn sheep, ibex, and markhor face welfare challenges from disease, habitat loss, and overhunting that affect individual and population welfare.
Wild sheep and goat welfare is threatened by disease transmission from domestic animals, habitat loss, and hunting pressure. Bighorn sheep pneumonia from contact with domestic sheep causes high mortality events that can eliminate entire populations. The welfare significance of these disease events is severe — animals die from respiratory failure over days to weeks. Ibex recovery through hunting-funded conservation shows that managed trophy hunting can support welfare through habitat protection and disease management when properly regulated. Wild mountain ungulate welfare is ultimately determined by the quality of the habitat, the presence of natural social structures, and freedom from disease and excessive predation.