Jump to content

Shrek (sheep)

Checked
Page protected with pending changes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Shrek
Shrek in November 2008
SpeciesOvis aries (domestic sheep)
BreedMerino
SexMale
Born(1994-11-27)27 November 1994
New Zealand
Died6 June 2011(2011-06-06) (aged 16)
Tarras, Otago, New Zealand
Years active2004–2011
Known forAvoiding capture
Having grown 27 kg of wool
OwnerBendigo Station
Named afterShrek

Shrek (27 November 1994– 6 June 2011) was a Merino wether belonging to Bendigo Station, a sheep station near Tarras, New Zealand.[1] He gained international fame in 2004, after he avoided being caught and shorn for six years.[1] Merinos are normally shorn annually, but Shrek apparently hid in caves, avoiding muster. He was named after the fictional ogre in books and films of the same name.[2]

Life

[edit]

After finally being caught on 15 April 2004, he was shorn by a professional in 20 minutes on 28 April. The shearing was broadcast on national television in New Zealand.[3][4] His fleece contained enough wool to make 20 large men's suits, weighing 27 kg (60 lb) – an average Merino fleece weighs around 4.4 kg (9.7 lb),[5] with exceptional weights up to around 15 kg (33 lb).[6]

Shrek became a national icon. He was taken to parliament to meet the then-New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, in May 2004, to celebrate his 10th birthday.[7][8] In November 2006, 30 months after his initial shearing, Shrek was shorn again, on an iceberg floating off the coast of Dunedin, New Zealand.[9][10]

Shrek was also shorn on the Sky Tower observation deck, raising money for charity.[11]

Death & legacy

[edit]

Shrek was euthanised on 6 June 2011 on a veterinarian's advice. He was 16.[1]

At the New Zealand parliament onsite storage facility, a wooden box with a cutting of wool from Shrek was uncovered.[11] It was a gift to Rt Hon Helen Clark in 2004, who met him later that year.[11]

In 2014, a taxidermy Shrek the Sheep appeared in an exhibition at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. He was treated and stuffed by taxidermist, David Jacobs based in Queenstown.[12][13]

Shrek remains in the collection at Te Papa, as well as his limited edition Icebreaker jersey, blanket cover and his fleece.[14][15][16][17]

In 2022, another sheep who evaded shearing for many years was named 'Shrekapo' after the original Shrek the sheep.[18]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 "Shrek the celebrity sheep dies". Otago Daily Times. 6 June 2011. Archived from the original on 10 January 2012. Retrieved 25 November 2011.
  2. ↑ "Hermit sheep 'Shrek' shorn of 6-year-old woolly fleece". China Daily. 29 April 2004. Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  3. ↑ "NZ's famous sheep gets TV haircut". BBC. 28 April 2004. Archived from the original on 6 October 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  4. ↑ Booth, Jenny (28 April 2004). "Shrek the sheep shorn at last". London: BBC. Archived from the original on 16 May 2009. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
  5. ↑ "2002 Australian wool production survey, giving (p. 6) average Merino fleece weights" (PDF). agric.wa.gov.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2008. The long term average fleece weight for Western Australia is 4.4 kg greasy (Australian Wool Compendium data for 1967–68 to 2001–02)
  6. ↑ "Merino stud ram listed (p 3) with fleece weight of 16.2 kg" (PDF). sunnyvalley.com.au. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 2 October 2008.
  7. ↑ "Celebrity sheep meets NZ leader". BBC. 3 May 2004. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  8. ↑ "Southland Shrek's sheep romance fizzles". The New Zealand Herald. 14 November 2005. Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  9. ↑ "Shrek the sheep has close shave on ice". The Age. Australia. 29 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 January 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  10. ↑ "Dunedin-Shrek the sheep shorn again on an iceberg". NZPA. 28 November 2006. Archived from the original on 24 May 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2008.
  11. 1 2 3 "The Post". www.thepost.co.nz. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  12. ↑ Weekes, John (14 February 2025). "Shrek makes sheepish debut at Te Papa". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "Te Papa to showcase unique story of Shrek the sheep". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  14. ↑ "'Shrek 2/5' limited edition jersey". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  15. ↑ "Shrek the sheep's blanket cover". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  16. ↑ "Fleece from Shrek the Sheep". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  17. ↑ "Shrek the Sheep". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  18. ↑ Gourlay, Maddison (18 April 2022). "'Shrekapo' the elusive merino 18.6kg lighter after being shorn for the first time". Stuff. Retrieved 14 February 2025.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Perriam, John (October 2010). Shrek: The Story of a Kiwi Icon. Random House New Zealand. ISBN 1869793277.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shrek_(sheep)&oldid=1334642683"