“Britain’s loneliest sheep” is settling into her new home after a daring rescue and is said to be doing “absolutely phenomenal”.
The ewe, named Fiona, had been stranded for more than two years on her own at the foot of cliffs close to the Cromarty Firth before being winched to safety by a group of farmers on Saturday.
She is now in the care of Dalscone Farm Fun in Dumfries.
In a live video stream on Monday, Dalscone manager Ben Best said: “She is doing absolutely phenomenal.
“She has been eating well, she has been drinking well, she’s been doing amazing.”
Fiona arrived on Sunday night with all workers keeping a “close eye” on the sheep as she settles into the visitor attraction.
Farmer Ben, as he’s known in his live streams, said Fiona had adjusted well.
The devastating effects of fireworks on animals: A horse spooked to death and the campaign to change Bonfire Night
Colombia to cull ‘invasive’ hippo population after Pablo Escobar’s pets spiral in numbers
Animal-to-human diseases could kill 12 times as many people by 2050, study warns
He said: “She’s super chilled. She is so chilled. She’s doing great.
“She is a superstar, there’s no doubt about it.”
Fiona appears to be in good health after being sheared. She has been treated for ticks and experts will analyse a dung sample for any hidden issues.
Farmer Ben joked that she’s “actually overweight”, which was a surprise during the rescue.
He said: “The first big panic for us was the fact she was so heavy. It had been made out that she was going to be a light thing that was wasting away, but with the wool on she was over 100 kilos.”
Fiona was reportedly first spotted by a kayaker in 2021 at the foot of a steep cliff on the Moray Firth, close to the entrance of the Cromarty Firth, on the east coast of Scotland’s Highlands region, according to the Northern Times.
When she was seen in the same place two years after the previous sighting, pictures of her began to circulate and she hit the headlines dubbed “Britain’s loneliest sheep”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Farmer Ben said Fiona appears to be around three-years-old and has managed to survive “all by herself” by taking shelter in a cave.
He said: “It’s amazing she’s even still here.
“The fleece she had on her was massive. She must have stayed inside all the time when it was raining. Because if it started raining and that fleece got soaking, she would be immobile.
“She would be immobile, she would lie down, she would get pneumonia and she wouldn’t have made it.
“She’s been wise, she’s been clever, and she’s been cunning to try and survive and do her thing.”
Farmer Ben said Fiona had to be brought to Dalscone Farm Fun under “cloak and dagger” following a demonstration outside by Animal Rising.
The animal rights group launched a petition against the ewe being kept at the “petting zoo”, which it claimed would turn her into a “spectacle”.
The group said it had planned its own rescue before being pipped to the post by the farmers.
Animal Rising supporter Jamie Moyes said the group is pleased that Fiona is no longer stranded but said the move to Dalscone Farm Fun was “unacceptable”.
He added: “Petting zoos can be stressful for any animal, but especially for one that has lived alone for the last two years and will likely now be mobbed by daily visitors owing to her celebrity status.
“The right thing to do would be to allow her to live out the rest of her life safely at Tribe Animal Sanctuary, who already agreed to home her.”
Read more from Sky News:
Biker taken to hospital after tarantula crossing road causes collision
‘Escape artist’ tortoise reunited with owner after three years on the run
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Farmer Ben thanked all those who have shown support to Dalscone Farm Fun and pledged transparency over Fiona’s care – which will be streamed online.
He added: “We knew this was the right place for her. Everyone knows this is the right place for her.
“She’ll live out her days here – completely happy, stress-free.”
