Rescue operation saves "loneliest sheep in Great Britain" after two years on a cliff
Stuck on a gravel beach at the foot of a cliff in northern Scotland for at least two years, this bovid family animal had earned itself the title of "the loneliest sheep in Great Britain". Thanks to the efforts of five farmers, this sheep's isolated existence has finally come to a close.
10:51 AM EST, January 17, 2024
Rescue of a lonely sheep
A local resident of Brora, Jill Turner, was the first one to notice the sheep during a kayaking trip in 2021. In an interview with "The Northern Times," she revealed that she originally thought the sheep would find its way home, and she didn't give it much thought afterwards. She was, however, shocked to discover the sheep still stuck on the cliff during a subsequent kayaking trip.
"She called out on our approach and once again followed the group along the shore jumping from rock to rock, calling to us the whole way. (...) She called out on our approach and once again followed the group along the shore jumping from rock to rock, calling to us the whole way," Turner explained, as reported by "The Guardian".
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Jill Turner made several attempts to organize help from different agencies but had little success. After reaching out to the mountain rescue team from Cairngorm and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, she found out that nothing could be done until the situation worsened. Over time, the plight of the sheep attracted attention from local and national media. An online petition drawing attention to the sheep's predicament, organised by Cammy Wilson, a sheep shearer from Ayrshire county and a presenter of the BBC show Landward, along with his colleagues, garnered over 50 thousand signatures.
Farmers rescue lonely sheep
The case of the "loneliest sheep in Great Britain" attracted the attention of local farmers who organised a rescue operation. Three farmers were lowered down the 820-feet cliff while two others waited at the top. The sheep was found hiding in a cave.
Now christened Fiona, the sheep is safe in a farm where she is hoped to recover. Though she is overweight and unkempt, fortunately, Fiona is no longer alone.
