Animals with dreadlocks, the mental images formed when reading those words have no bounds.
Some animals have naturally curly hair and have the appearance of dreadlocks. While some have dreadlocks and others may have a gene mutation, or they could be scientifically made to look a certain way; in any case, these animals have evolved to live and be known through that appearance; for some species, this feature is what defines them.
The animals may be of the ancient origin, or they were specially bred for various uses such as transport, protection, or for their meat and wool, or in some cases as house pets.
Dreadlocks are long ropes of hair formed due to hair being interlocked or braided due to natural circumstances; humans have been walking around with dreadlocks as it adds to their natural beauty; the same case can be said for these animals with dreads.
Some of these animals are rare and endangered, but people have made efforts to conserve the species and have successfully achieved that.
These animals can be found worldwide. They attract hundreds and thousands of people with curiosity about how they are the way they are, and to educate and inform more people about these exotic animals, here are 15 of the top animals with dreadlocks.
1. Suri alpaca
These Alpacas give off an appearance that closely resembles a mat with luscious wool locks that have been placed on top of the Alpaca. What appears as the mat’s fibers are the wool of the alpaca that is naturally in the form of dreadlocks which helps it stay warm on high altitudes, where these animals prosper.
Peru is home to the highest density of Suri Alpacas is bred for their extremely valuable and rare coat of fur, the value being so high because only 7% of the total Alpaca population makes up the Suri.
2. Yak Bull
These Yaks prove that animals with dreadlocks are not just about appearance but also provide essential utility. A breed of cattle, this behemoth of a bull provides help to people by helping transport food, goods and act as a mode of transport on the hilly regions of the Himalayan Plateau where these are mostly found. They have a thick fur coat covering them, which provides insolation; these hairs extend below the Yak’s stomach and take the form of dreadlocks.
3. Komondor
Dogs are widely kept as a way of providing security to the livestock and managing them. The Komondor, however, has been bred and preserved for thousands of years as the perfect guardian of livestock, being built in a way that is perfect for warding off predators.
The hairs of animals with dreadlocks are usually long and clumpy, as is the case with the Komondor. The coat usually grows out in the form of long dreads, which gives off the look of a mop, rightfully earning the nickname “mop dog”, the thick white coat provides a large profile of the dog essential to keep predators away.
4. Hungarian Puli
As the name suggests, this breed originates from Hungary. These medium-sized dogs are primarily used for herding; having high intelligence and energy levels, this breed must begin training by the time it is 4-6 months old, as they are very loyal to the owners.
Despite having a small profile, these dogs are excellent herding dogs, their coat consists of long curly dreads which grow down to the ground, and the appearance gives a new meaning to the term animals with dreads.
5. Bergamasco Shepherd
Kept for herding sheep, the Bergamasco Shepherd originated in the Italian Alps. They are very loyal to their master and have a medium to large size built with a large head and heavy bones, which allows them to make sure that the livestock is protected at all times. The coat on the hind side of the dog is in the form of thick mat dreadlocks, while the forefront of the body has wavy ringlets.
6. Havanese Dog
When talking about animals with dreads, dogs take up a major percentage of it, and many of them were bred to be herding dogs. The Havanese serves as an exception as a ‘Toy Dog’, this Cuban breed has a small and sturdy built, and it is perfect as a family or a companion dog.
However, this dog has strong social needs that have to be attended to; the dog’s coat is long, lightweight, and silky, although in some cases, it turns out to be frizzy and clumpy.
7. Afghan Hounds
This breed of dog was raised once in the cold mountains for their unique ability to run swiftly on the snow, which made them great hunting dogs. Originating from the hills of Afghanistan, the Afghan hound has a tall and strong built, along with a great prey drive which was perfect for hunting.
These dogs are protective towards their owners if any threat arises; otherwise, they are very affectionate. Their appearance is the result of the cold climate, the long, thick, and silky coat of hair that touches the ground covering the dog acts, and the uniqueness of this breed.
8. Leicester Longwool
The fleece of this breed of sheep, as the name suggests, is long, thick, and in clumps giving it an appearance of a dreadlock sheep. The United States, Great Britain, and Australia are the places where this breed of sheep can be found; having a wedge-shaped face, these are also endangered and are being bred to increase population density and meat and wool.
9. Wensleydale Sheep
These types of sheep belong to the Wensleydale region of Nothern Hampshire. It is known for the brilliance and sheen of its fleece, having well-defined curly locks that have a natural shine to them along with being soft and fibrous. They are an endangered species as one of the two breeds of sheep that was used to breed the Wensleydale is now extinct. In current times, they are used to mate and gather market lambs.
10. Angora Goats
The fleece of this breed of goat disguises it as a dreadlock sheep since the mohair produced by them is thick and curly, having its shine and smoothness. The difference is that the fiber is stronger and has more elasticity than any other type of wool. These are native to the Angora region in Asia, and one of their most distinctive features is long drooping ears.
11. Poitou Donkey
Ancient is the word that describes these donkeys. They have been around for many years providing use in various agricultural aspects and transport of military supplies during wars. They have a long thick coat in the form of dreads that grow long enough to touch the ground.
These donkeys were on the verge of extinction, but the population density is back to normal through rigorous effort, and only the wealthy French farmers can own them.
12. Sebastopol goose
This animal serves as a surprise when talking about animals with dreads; having originated in Europe, these geese have a small to medium built. The feathers on the breast region of the bird form thick curls that end up being frizzy and giving the appearance of dreads. Unfortunately, an outcome of these dreads is that they lose their ability to fly as the curls don’t allow for air to flow freely.
13. La perm cats
There exists a ‘rex gene’ in animals which, when it mutates, can result in the curling of the hair, which is the exact case with this breed of cats, having a muscular and small body, they have thick curls on their body particularly in the neck and hind region. These cats have originated from The United States and are rare to find, but they house pets of wealthy people when they do appear.
14. Frillback Pigeons
As far as animals with dreads go, this pigeon is a unique one; they are selectively bred, developed over many years of effort; these domesticated birds have curls and frills along with the feathers of their wings. Different varieties of this pigeon are being bred by ‘breed groups’ from The United States, Australia, and Europe.
15. Mangalica pigs
These are crossbred pigs originating from Hungary. These were bred to be the perfect domestic pig. Being small and sturdy, these pigs have a coat of thick curls and frills that take on dreadlocks’ appearance over time. Along with domestic use, these pigs are also raised for their meat, primarily being used to make sausages. There are three different types of this breed differentiated by just one factor, the color of their coat.
Conclusion
These were the Top 15 animals that have dreadlocks. There are various other types of dreadlock sheep, dogs, and even hamsters; all of these animals sure deserve a spotlight each because of their unique features and any utility that they can provide to the world. Hopefully, this article has piqued your interest to learn more about these exotic creatures. Thank you for reading.