A sheep’s wool coat needs to be sheared at least once a year. This is usually done during spring as excess wool would cause extreme discomfort for the sheep due to the heat. If the wool is left unkempt, it could also trap dirt and manifest bacteria.
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Sheep Struggling To Walk
Also, the excess wool would cause mobility problems for the sheep due to the added weight. In Southeastern Australia, one sheep had been suffering from this until he was spotted by nearby hikers.
This sheep had so much unkempt wool on him that he had obviously been neglected for a long time! He was estimated to be around 5 or 6 years of age. With summer quickly approaching, they knew that he needed help urgently.
Alarmed, the hikers quickly contacted the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for help. The organisation immediately responded and sought the expertise of Ian Elkins, a four-time national shearing champion.
Needless to say, Elkins was shocked to see so much unkempt wool, and had never sheared so much wool off one either. Elkins quickly got to work and sheared more than 90 pounds of wool off the sheep, taking almost an hour to finish. Elkins even got to hold a Guinness World Records title for “Most Wool Sheared From A Sheep in a Single Shearing”.
The sheep was soon named Chris, who immediately expressed his gratitude to his saviors. Chris became very sociable and now loves to receive pets from people. He is currently living happily in a farm and is well-taken care of. Chris’ sheared wool is also featured in the National Museum Of Australia as an exhibit to educate the public about animal welfare.
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