Hermit sheep fleeced after six years on the lam

MSNBC.com ^ | 28 April 2004 | Reuters

[Moose4]

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - When the time came, Shrek the wild and woolly sheep went as meekly as a lamb.

After dodging the shearer’s blades for six years, the New Zealand hermit merino was shorn on Wednesday under blazing arc lights before a nationwide television audience.

The nine-year-old did not bat an eyelid during the 25-minute operation as former world champion shearer Peter Casserley used old-fashioned cutting blades, like a giant pair of scissors, to clip the heavily matted wool.

The fleece, described as “rock hard” in places, was 15 inches long and weighed in at 59 lbs.

[Moose4]

Insert sheep jokes here.

}:-)4

[Charles Henrickson]

Shrek, looking a bit sheepish.

[laotzu]

excerpt:
Shrek, named after the friendly ogre in the popular animated film of the same name, was virtually unrecognizable as a sheep when captured two weeks ago on a high country farm in central Otago, about 400 miles south of Wellington.

The hardy sheep is thought to have survived freezing winters, at 4,900 feet above sea level in the heart of New Zealand’s main mountain chain, by eating plants and hiding in caves.

High quality merino wool is prized by the fashion world. Shrek’s fleece, estimated to be enough to make more than 20 suits, is to be auctioned for a childrens’ charity.

However, with winter just around the corner, the shearer left him with a good covering of wool and he was also given a protective jacket -- made from fine merino.

[martin_fierro]

Ewe ham ewe.

[Charles Henrickson]

New name: Chuck Woolery

[Fury]

Hmmm, I would have thought the sheep would have wool blindness from all the wool around the eyes, or problems on the backside with wool...

[sonsofliberty2000]

---

Patriot Paradox

[Charles Henrickson]

New name: Ol' Crusty

[martin_fierro]

Yah, mon.

[null and void]

Ewwwwwww! I'm glad we didn't get the sheep shagger's view...

[Agnes Heep]

Line from a book on animal husbandry: "Once caught, sheep seldom struggle."

[theFIRMbss]

It's not really Shrek! It's an imposter! It's just a disguise! Run! RUN!

[Charles Henrickson]

It's a sheep in wool clothing.

[commish]

We need the after Picture too ... so we can see the slim and trimmed Shrek.

[ikka]

What! We can find a merino sheep who is hiding out in caves, but we can't find Osama?!? Clearly Bush is asleep at the wheel... (trying to spin this one for the Democrats)

[martin_fierro]

We need the after Picture too

[commish]

THAT is one pissed pussy!

[Charles Henrickson]

Baa-ram-ewe, baa-ram-ewe.
To your breed, your fleece, your clan, be true.
Sheep be true. Baa-ram-ewe.

[pointsal]

Well, where's the AFTER photo...

[kstewskis]

he looks like a Chia Pet!