Shrek (sheep)
Shrek was a Merino wether belonging to Bendigo Station, a sheep station near Tarras, New Zealand. He gained international fame in 2004, after he avoided being caught and shorn for six years. 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.
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. His fleece contained enough wool to make 20 large men's suits, weighing – an average Merino fleece weighs around, with exceptional weights up to around.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. In November 2006, 30 months after his initial shearing, Shrek was shorn again, on an iceberg floating off the coast of Dunedin, New Zealand.
Shrek was also shorn on the Sky Tower observation deck, raising money for charity.
Death & legacy
Shrek was euthanised on 6 June 2011 on a veterinarian's advice. He was 16.At the New Zealand parliament onsite storage facility, a wooden box with a cutting of wool from Shrek was uncovered. It was a gift to Rt Hon Helen Clark in 2004, who met him later that year.
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.
Shrek remains in the collection at Te Papa, as well as his limited edition Icebreaker jersey, blanket cover and his fleece.
In 2022, another sheep who evaded shearing for many years was named 'Shrekapo' after the original Shrek the sheep.