In the UK, a very lonely ewe named Fiona is lonely no more. Known as ‘Britain’s loneliest sheep,’ she became stranded at the foot of a cliff in the Scottish Highlands for two years.
Despite many failed rescue attempts, no one could reach her at the bottom of the precipice where she was marooned. She had enough to feed on but no company of any kind. Yesterday, five Good Samaritan farmers hauled her 250m up the cliff with heavy machinery.
Two years ago, shortly after she went missing, a kayaker named Jillian Turner happened to spot her on the shoreline on Cromarty Firth while paddling nearby. Heartbreakingly, a distressed Fiona called out to her for help. Turner reported Fiona’s whereabouts to the local animal care authorities. And so started a long logistical battle to get her back. This area is notorious hard to access from both land and sea.
Fiona the sheep. Photo: Jillian Turner
However, neither the SSPCA (Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) nor the coast guard had the resources to attempt such a difficult operation. The owner and his workers also tried several times, unsuccessfully, to retrieve her.
This week, farmers Cammy Wilson, Graeme Parker, Als Couzens, Ally Williamson, and James Parker decided to do the job themselves. Two of them stayed at the top of the cliff with a winch while the others went below to get her.
They found her snug in a cave. She was quite heavy due to her overgrown coat, which made their task difficult. Other than that, she was perfectly healthy, although she was likely happy to rejoin the other sheep. As a herd animal, she needed that connection.
Fiona with her rescuers. Photo: STV News
After Fiona gets food, rest, and a much-needed shearing, she will live in a farm park with other sheep. We wish her a speedy recovery and a happy long life among her kind.
