The giant sheep helping Tajikistan weather climate change

The breed, prized for profitability and an ability to adapt to climate change, garners celebrity status in the Central Asian country, which is beset by a shortage of both meat and suitable grazing land. "They rapidly gain weight even when there is little water and pasture available," 18-year-old Sharipov said. Facing a serious degradation in farmland due to years of overgrazing and global warming, the hardy sheep offer a potential boon to Tajikistan's farmers and plentiful supply of mutton to consumers.