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Shrek (sheep)

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File:Shrek cover.jpg
Shrek features on the cover of his biography by John Perriam

Shrek (c. 1994 – 6 June 2011) was a Merino wether (castrated male sheep) belonging to Bendigo Station, a sheep station near Tarras, New Zealand, who gained international fame in 2004 after he avoided being caught and shorn for six years. Merinos are normally shorn annually, but Shrek apparently hid in caves, avoiding muster. He was named after the fictional character in books and films of the same name.[1]

After being caught on 15 April 2004, the wether was shorn by a professional in 20 minutes on 28 April. The shearing was broadcast on national television in New Zealand.[2][3] His fleece contained enough wool to make suits for 20 men, weighing 27 kg (60 lb) — an average Merino fleece weighs around 4.5 kg (9.9 lb),[4] with exceptional weights up to around 15 kg (33 lb).[5]

Shrek became a national icon. He was taken to parliament to meet the New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, in May 2004.[6][7] To celebrate his tenth birthday, 7 months after his initial shearing, Shrek was shorn again on an iceberg floating off the coast of Dunedin, New Zealand.[8][9]

Shrek was put down on 6 June 2011 on the advice of a veterinary surgeon.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hermit sheep 'Shrek' shorn of 6-year-old woolly fleece". China Daily. 2004-04-29. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  2. ^ "NZ's famous sheep gets TV haircut". BBC. 2004-04-28. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  3. ^ Booth, Jenny (2004-04-28). "Shrek the sheep shorn at last". London: BBC. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
  4. ^ 2002 Australian wool production survey, giving (p. 6) average Merino fleece weights.
  5. ^ Merino stud ram listed (p 3) with fleece weight of 16.2 kg.
  6. ^ "Celebrity sheep meets NZ leader". BBC. 2004-05-03. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  7. ^ "Southland Shrek's sheep romance fizzles". New Zealand Herald. 2005-11-14. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  8. ^ "Shrek the sheep has close shave on ice". The Age. 2006-11-29. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  9. ^ "Dunedin-Shrek the sheep shorn again on an iceberg". NZPA. 2006-11-28. Retrieved 2008-01-27.
  10. ^ "Shrek the sheep passes away". Otago Daily Times. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.
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