Page 105 - THE SLOUGHI REVIEW - ISSUE 13

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Radiate tip trap made of reed and associated snare. Tuaregs from Menéka,
in La Chasse p.38
Lhote continues:

“The mouflon. The mouflon ouded (pl. oudadin) is a mountain dweller par excellence and is

found in all the mountain massifs of the Tuareg region: Ahaggar, Tassili, Adrar, Aïr [69].

It is even found in the small granite and sandstone massifs that rise north of the
Ioullimmide steppe, in the Tiguédi rocks, south of the Aïr and even near Goundam. Chudeau

reported that it occurs in this region and Governor Mourgues, who had administered this
district for a long time, confirmed to me that this information was correct. There are said to
be several species, including Ammotragus lervia, identified in Ahaggar, and Ammotragus
lervia sahariensis angusi in AÏr.

The mouflon is a remarkable climber and lives on the highest peaks or plateaus that seem
inaccessible to us at first sight. There it seeks shelter in the loneliest places, in crevices with
steep slopes, on escarpments and chimneys where there are rock shelters where it can find a

resting place that no one can disturb. When climbers Frison-Roche and Coche reached the
summit of Garet ed Djenoun, they found an old, all-white male who was very surprised to
see people in his territory and let himself come within hand's reach.

He is intelligent, cunning and courageous in battle. It is a prime game, most appreciated by

the Tuareg for the strong emotions its hunt brings. In their opinion, hunting gazelles and
antelopes cannot be compared to hunting mouflons, which requires greater athletic skills
and, above all, very good dogs, because in this hunt the dog plays the biggest role. It is quite
common to catch the mouflon with a radial tip trap, but what is so special about it? The

traditional hunt, for which many Tuareg are famous, consists of reading the tracks of the
ouded (mouflon), tracking it down, discovering its retreat, tracking it with dogs, chasing it,
cornering it and finally killing it with the spear.”