May he rest in peace.
The world’s wooliest sheep, Chris, has passed away.
The merino sheep was found wandering around the Australian outback near Canberra in 2015. He was carrying a staggering 41 kilograms of wool on his body.
It was thought that Chris had been wandering around the outback for as long as six years.
Little Oak Sanctuary confirmed the sad news of Chris’s death this week, saying that the sheep was “so much more” than his wool.
“We have heartbreaking news,” they said.
“Chris the sheep has passed away. We are heartbroken at the loss of this sweet, wise, friendly soul.
“Chris is known as the world record holder for having grown the heaviest fleece on record. He was so much more than this, so very much more, and we will remember him for all that he was – someone, not something – here with us, not for us.
“RIP dear Chris,” they finished.
Once discovered in the outback, RSPCA Australia made the decision to remove over 40kg of Chris’s wool, as the heavy fleece was affecting his health and making it difficult for him to move.
At the time, the charity’s chief Tammy Ven Dange said that Chris’s back legs were likely to be “a little bit awkward” for the rest of his life – due to the extra wool.
“He is quite skinny so we’re doing our absolute best to fatten him up as quickly as possible,” she said.
“I think his back legs will probably be a little bit awkward for the rest of his life because he was carrying that much extra weight for so long.”
Chris was named after Chris the Sheep from Father Ted.
He was 10 years old when he was passed away.
Feature image via RSPCA ACT.
