Fiona the Sheep – also coined as Britain’s loneliest sheep – has been rescued from a remote shingle beach in the Highlands, after being stuck for two years.
Two years ago, Jillian Turner spotted the sheep while kayaking and assumed Fiona would make it back to safety by herself. While kayaking the same route weeks ago, she was horrified to discover the ewe was still there.
Turner commented to the Northern Times: “She saw us coming and was calling to us along the length of the beach following our progress until she could go no further. She finally turned back, looking defeated… 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 described the experience as “heart-rending,” after which she contacted the Cairngorm mountain rescue team and the Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
After a photo of Fiona went viral on social media, Cammy Wilson, a sheep shearer from Ayrshire, organised a rescue mission in his personal time alongside four other farmers.
A petition to start a rescue mission gained over 52,000 signatures and Wilson stated that the spread of misinformation about the abandoned sheep motivated him to rescue Fiona.
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Three farmers were lowered 250m down the cliff to reach Fiona, afterwards Wilson acknowledged the riskiness of the rescue mission to the BBC: “The only difference between us being heroes and idiots is a slip of the foot.”
The rescuers then named her “Fiona,” as this was reminiscent of the New Zealand sheep – Shrek – who was stuck in a cave for six years, with this story in mind they decided to give her the name of Shrek’s companion.
After being rescued, Fiona was examined by the SPCA, who stated that she was in good shape, besides a desperate need to be sheared.
Fiona was then moved to Dalscone Farm near Dumfries, which sparked criticism from animal rights group Animal Rising, saying this move would make the sheep a “spectacle.”
The group protested outside the farm on November 4th, also stating they were planning the extraction of Fiona but were beaten to it.
Dalscone Farm later said in a Facebook video that staff felt “intimidated” by the protesters, after they held up signs saying “Free Fiona.”
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Jamie Moyes, local activist of Animal Rising told The Student: “We are of course grateful she is no longer stranded at the base of a cliff, but we are disappointed she is not safely in the peaceful sanctuary she deserves after two years of neglect and isolation.
“This sheep is just one of the millions of individuals who suffer in our food system. We desperately need a plant-based food system and programme of rewilding to heal our relationship with animals and nature”.
Dalscone’s farmer Ben responded by stating that: “they are planning to give Fiona a five star home, we are going to get her some amazing friends.”
He added that Dalscone will be closed for winter regardless, giving Fiona enough time to settle in.
Despite her years of loneliness, Fiona is well-fed – slightly overweight even – and in a good condition, fans of the sheep can follow live updates from Dalscone on their Facebook page
Image credit via Animal Rising.