A sheared sheep, found wandering through regional Australia, was sheared by its 35kg wool – an even heavier weight than the famous New Zealand Shrek sheep, which was caught in 2005 after six years off.
The merino ram, nicknamed the Baarack by rescuers, was found wandering alone with an extraordinarily high wool coat and was immediately cut to save his life.
Kyle Behrend, from the sanctuary of Edgar’s Mission, told Reuters that it appeared that Baarack was “once a property sheep” who had escaped. Merino sheep do not shed their wool and must be cut at least annually, as their wool continues to grow.
The hairy sheep was found near Lancefield in Victoria, and rescuers said it “made a living” by eating small shoots of grass.
“He was at one time marked with ears, however they appear to have been torn from thick, matte wool around his face,” Behrend said. “It simply came to our notice then. He was underweight and could barely see because of all the wool around his face. “
Baarack is the last of a long line of very large sheep and wool to make international titles.
In 2005, Shrek became a beloved celebrity in New Zealand, after spending six years avoiding capture and growing to an extraordinary size.
VERY LARGE SHEEP
He was finally sheared with 27 kg of wool and even met New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark before she died in 2011.
A 2014 Guardian Australia analysis estimated that Shrek’s wool could be used to produce 47.3 jumpers.
Based on a 70% efficiency assumption, Baarack’s cotton wool would be the equivalent of 61.3 wool sweaters or 490 pairs of men’s business socks.
Shrek’s legacy lives on in his home country, with TVNZ announcing Baarack’s discovery as “Lost Australian Sheep Bring Memories of Our Own Shrek.”
In 2014, another escaped merino ram, named Shaun the sheep, was found with a 23.5 kg wool in New Zealand.
And last year in Australia, a stray sheep – eventually named Ewenice – was relieved of 20kg of wool after it was discovered in central Victoria.
But all the sheep, including Baarack, are still pale compared to Chris, a Canberran ram who was found in 2005 with a world record of 41 kg of wool – twice his body weight.
Chris’ wool was donated to the National Museum of Australia, where it is housed in a large display case. The relieved sheep was adopted to live comfortably in a sanctuary until she died in 2019.
Behrend said Baarack has adapted well to his new weight and is settling with other sheep on the farm.