Shrek (sheep)

Shrek (27 November 1994– 6 June 2011) was a Merino wether, castrated male sheep belonging to Bendigo Station, a sheep station near Tarras, New Zealand.^[1] He gained international fame in 2004, after he avoided being caught and shorn for six years.^[1] Merinos are normally shorn annually, but Shrek apparently hid in caves, avoiding muster. He was named after the fictional ogre in books and films of the same name.^[2]

Shrek

Shrek in November 2008
Species	Ovis aries (domestic sheep)
Breed	Merino
Sex	Male
Born	(1994-11-27)27 November 1994 New Zealand
Died	6 June 2011(2011-06-06) (aged 16) Tarras, Otago, New Zealand
Years active	2004–2011
Known for	Avoiding capture Having grown 27kg of wool
Owner	Bendigo Station
Named after	Shrek

Life

After finally being caught on 15 April 2004, he was shorn by a professional in 20 minutes on 28 April. The shearing was broadcast on national television in New Zealand.^[3][4] His fleece contained enough wool to make 20 large men's suits, weighing 27kg (60lb)– an average Merino fleece weighs around 4.5kg (10lb),^[5] with exceptional weights up to around 15kg (33lb).^[6]

Shrek became a national icon. He was taken to parliament to meet the then-New Zealand Prime Minister, Helen Clark, in May 2004, to celebrate his 10th birthday.^[7][8] In November 2006, 30 months after his initial shearing, Shrek was shorn again, on an iceberg floating off the coast of Dunedin, New Zealand.^[9][10]

Shrek was also shorn on the Sky Tower observation deck, raising money for charity.^[11]

Death & legacy

Shrek was euthanised on 6 June 2011 on a veterinarian's advice. He was 16.^[1]

At the New Zealand parliament onsite storage facility, a wooden box with a cutting of wool from Shrek was uncovered.^[11] It was a gift to Rt Hon Helen Clark in 2004, who met him later that year.^[11]

In 2014, a taxidermy Shrek the Sheep appeared in an exhibition at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. He was treated and stuffed by taxidermist, David Jacobs based in Queenstown.^[12][13]

Shrek remains in the collection at Te Papa, as well as his limited edition Icebreaker jersey, blanket cover and his fleece.^{[14][15][16][17]}

In 2022, another sheep who evaded shearing for many years was named 'Shrekapo' after the original Shrek the sheep.^[18]

See also

• Agriculture in New Zealand
• Chris – a similar case in Australia
• Fiona – a similar case in Scotland
• Sonny Wool – tongue-in-cheek "psychic sheep" that became popular during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.