Shrek (sheep)
Encyclopedia
Shrek was a Merino
wether
(castrated male sheep) belonging to Bendigo Station, a sheep station
near Tarras
, New Zealand, who gained international fame in 2004 after he avoided being caught and shorn
for six years. Merinos are normally shorn annually, but Shrek apparently hid in caves, avoiding muster. He was named after the fictional character
in books and films of the same name.
After being caught on 15 April 2004, the wether was shorn by a professional in 20 minutes on 28 April. The shearing was broadcast on national television in New Zealand. His fleece contained enough wool
to make suits for 20 men, weighing 27 kg (60 lb) — an average Merino fleece weighs around 4.5 kg (9.9 lb), with exceptional weights up to around 15 kg (33 lb).
Shrek became a national icon. He was taken to parliament to meet the New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark
, in May 2004. To celebrate his tenth birthday, 30 months after his initial shearing, Shrek was shorn again on an iceberg floating off the coast of Dunedin
, New Zealand.
Shrek was put down on 6 June 2011 on the advice of a veterinary surgeon
.
Merino
The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep...
wether
Wether
Wether may refer to:*A castrated male goat*A castrated male sheep...
(castrated male sheep) belonging to Bendigo Station, a sheep station
Sheep station
A sheep station is a large property in Australia or New Zealand whose main activity is the raising of sheep for their wool and meat. In Australia, sheep stations are usually in the south-east or south-west of the country. In New Zealand the Merinos are usually in the high country of the South...
near Tarras
Tarras
Tarras is a small farming settlement in Central Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand. It is located on the slopes above the upper reaches of the Clutha Valley, on State Highway 8 not far from the southern end of the Lindis Pass. Most farms in the Tarras district run sheep, principally merino...
, New Zealand, who gained international fame in 2004 after he avoided being caught and shorn
Sheep shearing
Sheep shearing, shearing or clipping is the process by which the woollen fleece of a sheep is cut off. The person who removes the sheep's wool is called a shearer. Typically each adult sheep is shorn once each year...
for six years. Merinos are normally shorn annually, but Shrek apparently hid in caves, avoiding muster. He was named after the fictional character
Shrek (character)
Shrek is a fictional character from the children's book Shrek! and the Shrek films. He is the main protagonist of both the book and the films...
in books and films of the same name.
After being caught on 15 April 2004, the wether was shorn by a professional in 20 minutes on 28 April. The shearing was broadcast on national television in New Zealand. His fleece contained enough wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
to make suits for 20 men, weighing 27 kg (60 lb) — an average Merino fleece weighs around 4.5 kg (9.9 lb), with exceptional weights up to around 15 kg (33 lb).
Shrek became a national icon. He was taken to parliament to meet the New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark
Helen Clark
Helen Elizabeth Clark, ONZ is a New Zealand political figure who was the 37th Prime Minister of New Zealand for three consecutive terms from 1999 to 2008...
, in May 2004. To celebrate his tenth birthday, 30 months after his initial shearing, Shrek was shorn again on an iceberg floating off the coast of Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, New Zealand.
Shrek was put down on 6 June 2011 on the advice of a veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon is a term used to describe:*The full title of a vet, who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals, in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries**See also Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom...
.
See also
- Agriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New Zealand is the largest sector of the tradeable economy, contributing about two-thirds of exported goods in 2006-7. For the year ended March 2002, agricultural exports were valued at over $14.8 billion...
- Sonny WoolSonny WoolSonny Wool is a sheep from the North Island of New Zealand. Born in Dannevirke circa 2008, he is named after All Black Sonny Bill Williams. He has become famous since his feeding behaviour has been used to correctly predict the winner of each of the New Zealand national rugby union team's matches...
, psychic sheep of the 2011 Rugby World Cup