There are new hopes that Britain’s loneliest sheep won’t be lonely this Christmas, at least as a top team of Scottish naval experts prepare for a daring rescue mission.
The ewe, who was photographed standing desperately on a rock at the bottom of a remote eastern Scottish cliff near Balintore, is believed to have been stranded in the same position for years.
The Scottish SPCA had previously said they would not attempt to retrieve the sheep as it is not in danger, but after the image was shared on social media and public calls for action grew louder, it was confirmed a rescue would take place.
The sheep, who have been dubbed Shona the Loner by supporters, will now be rescued by Cromarty Firth Marine Services, who told MailOnline they were already planning the daring extraction.
The company, which specializes in handling unexploded ordnance, has operated everywhere from the North Sea to Iraq and says they will carry out the operation with ‘the least possible stress to the animal’.
‘Scotland’s loneliest sheep’ was spotted alone on a remote beach at the foot of a cliff
Cromarty Firth Marine Services said they will use their special plastic safety boat to rescue the animal
Speaking to MailOnline, the company’s director, Mhari Macphee, explained how the operation would take place and how confident she was of its success.
She said: ‘It’s clearly impossible to get the sheep back to the top of the cliff.
It is in an area that you wouldn’t call extremely remote, but certainly an area that is very difficult to reach unless you have a boat like we have with a plastic hull.
‘A normal fishing boat would be cut into the rocks. Our boat is special, it is actually unsinkable, we use it as a safety boat for cable laying jobs.’
Mhari says her crack team will depart from the company’s base in Cromarty that day and race across the bay to the cliff.
She continued, “We have never rescued a sheep. We plan to have a farmer with a sheepdog help us, because otherwise we might not be able to catch him.
‘The only problem is recording the sheep and location as we have clearly not landed in that area before. So it will depend on what it will be like when we get there under the conditions.
“Hopefully we’ll have it done in two hours.”
The circled sheep looks around in hope of rescue and shows off its impressive long coat above
But despite her assurances that the job will be a success and done well, she admits that the sheep still has a few lonely nights ahead.
She continued, “I don’t think it will happen until about mid-November, possibly December, because our boat actually got sent out today and I’m not sure when it will be back with us.”
Jillian Turner first spotted the animal in 2021 during a trip from Balintore to Nigg with the East Sutherland Canoe and Kayak Club.
But recently she made the same journey again and noticed that, remarkably, the sheep was still stuck on the small stretch of beach.
A local boat skipper – who has seen the sheep regularly over the past two years – said: ‘There are several caves in that area and it is believed to hide in at least one of them. That would explain how it survived.
“It’s amazing that it survived all the weather and in that exposed place.”
The sheep is not of the same breed as that of local farmers. It is thought to have been part of a herd temporarily on nearby grazing lands.
Mrs Turner said: ‘The landowner has made several attempts to reach her over the years but has had to abandon rescue attempts for various reasons, mainly due to the dangerous landscape.
“Bringing attention to this case is a big concern for him because he’s worried that people will randomly show up to be the hero and get hurt.”
A kayaker passes the rocky coastline where a sheep is stranded
The rugged coastline where the sheep have been stranded for more than two years
Scottish SPCA Chief Inspector Mike Flynn said: “We have been aware of the sheep stranded at Brora for some time and our team are monitoring the animal’s welfare as we work to find a rescue solution. The sheep are not in immediate danger and have sufficient pasture and water, but we are aware that they urgently need to be sheared.
‘We appreciate that there is a growing concern for the sheep and we would like to reassure the public that we are doing everything we can. Because the animal is not tagged, we cannot determine the ownership of the sheep, but we have received help from a local farmer.
‘The area where the sheep are stranded is highly inaccessible by both land and sea, making this rescue incredibly complex, especially due to the logistics of rescuing a large animal. We have been in contact with other agencies about the best way to reach the area, but so far we have not found a suitable solution that does not compromise the safety of the rescue teams and the welfare of the sheep.
“Because this is not a pet, neither the coast guard nor mountain rescue teams are able to assist in this case. We also spoke to a local boater who mentioned that it would be extremely difficult to land a boat in the area. We have been provided with contact details for other companies that may be able to assist you and we are currently exploring these options.
“If we find a solution to access the area, we will have to take into account a number of additional challenges. The sheep will be very difficult to catch without fences and obstacles and will probably be scared and run away. If the sheep become too upset, there is a possibility that they will run into the sea, causing even more problems.
‘Because the animal’s fur is overgrown, it will also prove difficult to temporarily sedate the animal, which would have helped in the rescue.
‘We have received many kind offers from people wanting to donate money to support this rescue, and from people interested in rehoming the sheep. If the rescue is successful, we will work with our contacts in the area to find them a specialist home. The sheep has been living as a wild animal for some time and will become extremely stressed by human contact.
‘However, should the situation be assessed as too unsafe for the rescue team or the sheep, the rescue will not proceed until it is safe.’