Difficulty: Summiteer (Level 3)
In the hills of the Central Asian country Tajikistan, shepherd Bakhtior Sharipov watched over his flock of giant Hissar sheep.
The breed is prized for profitability and its ability to adapt to climate change.
“They rapidly gain weight even when there is little water and pasture available,” 18-year-old Sharipov said.
Amid serious degradation in the region’s farmland, Hissar sheep give farmers a better way to make money since they yield more meat than most other breeds; large rams can weigh over 210kg. Mutton is also a key ingredient in Central Asian food.
Declining land quality is a huge problem in the region. Many farmers emigrate because their land cannot support crops.
But Hissar sheep can still thrive in these tough conditions. They wander up to 500km in search of grazing land between seasons, helping pastures in different regions to regenerate.
