Hermit sheep brought back into society CHARLEY MANN Last updated 05:00 03/12/2011
Horace the hermit sheep has entered civilisation at a fast waddle after six wild years on the Upper Rakaia hills.
On Thursday afternoon, the black-faced merino-cross was rounded up on Canterbury's Big Ben Station after evading capture for six years.
Padded with a huge fleece, Horace will be shorn at the Springfield Hotel tomorrow at 2pm.
Musterer Francine Murray, along with a team of six, guided the giant ball of wool down the hills.
"It was still able to waddle at some speed," she said.
"We managed to get above it and walked it down. We didn't want to lose it. We were a bit concerned about it getting into the matagouri, as it would have got stuck."
Horace made it safely to a waiting ute, where it took four people to lift the hermit into the boot.
While Horace would not mix with other sheep, Murray said Horace was a rather intelligent and friendly creature.
"It is remarkably tame, not eating out of your hand, but seems to be taking it all in its stride."
When Horace was put into a pen "he went around and pushed his head against each side of the fence, and then just walked off into a corner and started eating", she said.
"This is a very special sheep."
After a belly shear, Horace was able to waddle more freely, although still weighed down by the impressive coat.
The mystery of the hermit sheep's gender will also be solved tomorrow. For six years the sheep was thought to be a ram, until photographs emerged last week showing Horace could potentially be a Henrietta. Murray said it appeared "he" had a female ear marking.
After the weekend, Horace would begin a new career in public relations, visiting schools and doing publicity work.
The Press
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6079665/Hermit-sheep-brought-back-into-society