What are Soay sheep exactly?

The Soay sheep is a feral sheep of the family of ovis aries. They were named   after their homeland, the island of Soay in the St Kilda archipelago, in Scotland.  It is believed to be a survivor of the earliest domesticated sheep kept in northern Europe, and it remains physically similar to the wild ancestors of domestic sheep. Scholars believe the sheep have been living on the island for thousands of years, which kept their genetic pool intact.

Soay sheep are much smaller than modern domesticated sheep but hardier, and very agile. They graze sea plantain (plantago maritima), sea pink (armeria maritima), red fescue (festuca rubra) and plantago pastures. Their coat can be dark (brown) or light (blond), and lighter sheep tend to be smaller.

Many sheep were transported to other parts of the world in 1930, fleeing the area along with the last inhabitants of the island. Then scientific research began, focusing on the natural environment of the archipelago. Today, there are approximately 200 wild sheep left on the island of Soay itself.

The population makes an ideal model subject for scientists researching evolution, population dynamics and demography because the population is unmanaged, closed (no emigration or immigration) and has no significant competitors or predators.