Marco Polo Sheep - Afghanistan

Afghanistan has reaped rewards and suffering based on its geographic location in Central Asia. The “Silk Road” served as a vital connection in the advancement of prosperity between European and Asian merchants, but unfortunately it also attracted ancient and modern invaders determined to control Afghanistan.

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Ovis ammon polii - The Marco Polo sheep is a sub-species of the mountain goat, a wild sheep found throughout Central Asia. Marco Polo sheep are known for their long spiraling horns. Attaining lengths of 55 centimeters, they have the longest horns of any sheep. The horns have the greatest growth during the first year of the ram’s life. Each new season produces an offset from earlier seasons and creates a ring pattern similar to trees. This allows the age of male sheep to be accurately determined; females do not carry horns.

Flaky Juniper - Afghanistan

Juniperus squamata - Flaky juniper is found throughout the Himalayan Plateau stretching from Afghanistan across to Central China and ranging between 1,300 to 4,800 meter in altitudes. The cone of the flaky juniper has the appearance of a berry and contains only one seed. Cones are the structures of conifer trees containing either the seeds or pollen for reproduction. The woody cones are the female structures holding the seeds. The males cones are less conspicuous and carry the pollen.

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The Kushan Empire was founded by Kujula Kadphises in the 1st century and was based near the Amu River and later at Kabul. The Kushan Empire reached its peak under Kanishka the Great. Under his reign, the boundaries of the empire were pushed from Southern Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to Northern India and from Pakistan to Western China. The empire began to fracture into semi-independent kingdoms in the 3rd century and fell into permanent decline with the arrival of the Sassanians.