A sheep dubbed “Britain’s loneliest sheep” is at the center of a growing controversy after it was rescued from the foot of a remote cliff in the Scottish Highlands this weekend.
The sheep, now named Fiona, had been stranded at the foot of the cliffs on the Cromarty Firth in Scotland for at least two years. Animal welfare experts had initially assessed every rescue attempt as “incredibly complex”.
Fiona, the sheep who was rescued after being stranded alone at the bottom of a cliff in Scotland for two years. Animal riot
But a rescue operation was initiated by Cammy Wilson, a sheep shearer from Ayrshire, who organized the operation along with four other people. They used heavy equipment to pull Fiona up a steep slope and overcome the difficult terrain. Fiona was in relatively good condition but needed to shear her overgrown fleece.
“Farmers and the farming community were getting such negative press that I felt like we had to do something to show how much we care about them,” Wilson told Newsweek, who said that Fiona, with her newly shorn coat now looks “excellent”.
The mission involved both risk and dedication. Rescuers descended 250 meters down a cliff to reach the stranded sheep. The successful mission received widespread attention and support; Tens of thousands of people signed a petition calling for their rescue. It is unclear how she ended up stranded at the bottom of the cliff.
On the morning of November 6th she arrived at Dalscone Farm in Dumfries, Scotland, where she is currently being kept alongside other sheep and is receiving the care and attention she needs.
A picture of Fiona after her huge coat has been sheared. After two years alone at the foot of a cliff, Fiona is now in the care of Dalscone Farm in Dumfries, Scotland. Cammy Wilson
However, a group of Animal Rising activists, known for their previous actions to disrupt high-profile horse racing, staged a protest at Dalscone Farm on Sunday and expressed their concerns about Fiona’s welfare.
“Yesterday, seven of our supporters stood quietly outside Dalscone Farm Fun holding placards awaiting Fiona’s arrival,” an Animal Rising spokesperson told Newsweek. “We know she arrived in Dumfries last night. We are of course grateful that she is no longer stuck at the bottom of a cliff, but disappointed that after two years of neglect and isolation she is not safe in the peaceful refuge she deserves.”
A picture of the Animal Rising group protesting at Dalscone Farm on Sunday November 5th. Animal Rising
“Petting zoos can be stressful for any animal, especially animals that have lived alone for the past two years and are now likely to be harassed by daily visitors due to their celebrity status,” they added in a statement. “The right thing to do would be to allow her to spend the rest of her life safely at the Tribe Animal Sanctuary, which has already agreed to take her in.”
In a Facebook Live video on Sunday, “Farmer Ben” of Dalscone Farm shared a video in which he said the farm’s staff felt “intimidated” when protesters allegedly flew a drone and held placards that read: Free Fiona” and “Free Fiona”. Sanctuary, not a spectacle.
The farm also later clarified that the farm will be closed to the public during the off-season for the next five months, giving Fiona the opportunity to slowly get used to life with other animals and people.
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Newsweek strives to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek strives to challenge conventional wisdom and find connections in the search for common ground.