Baarack the sheep could finally see clearly for the first time in years after his rescuers cut his 75-pound matted coat.
Sheep
The Australian wild sheep had been left to run wild for years and had grown a large coat of fur before being saved by an animal shelter.
This sheep had at least five years' worth of wool growth, according to volunteers at Edgar's Mission in Lancefield, Australia.
The matted mass of wool was pulling the sheep down and obscuring his vision, in addition to giving him an oddly bulbous look.
Baarack also struggled to brace himself under the weight of his matted and filthy fleece in a video taken by workers at Edgar's Mission on February 5.
Sheep usually needs human assistance in trimming their wool. It is detrimental to their welfare if it is permitted to grow uncontrolled.
Love the clever memes of Baarack the sheep’s transformation. If you enjoyed his story, consider supporting @edgarsmission sanctuary that rescued him! Collectively we could make a big difference for Baarack and the >400 rescue animals under their care https://t.co/1V6SK5Ylph pic.twitter.com/VHcHi5OiVN
— Stacy Loeb, MD (@LoebStacy) February 28, 2021
Baarack The Sheep: How Rescuers Found This Wild Animal
According to a Facebook post from the sanctuary that found him, the domestic sheep was discovered in a forest in Australia earlier this month "on the verge of imminent death."
The sanctuary said the person who found the wild sheep had a hard time noticing the sheep covered under the convoluted shifting mass of matted fleece. The animal's fleece had innumerable rocks, twigs, and insects that were not Australia's solution to the yeti.
Volunteers sheared Baarack's bulky coat and shared his before and after photos.
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Baarack from the brink comes the opportunity to live… No longer on the brink of certain death is Baarack. He was pulled... Posted by Edgar's Mission on Tuesday, February 9, 2021
It took an hour for volunteers to cut Baarack's dense, twisted coat, which normally takes just minutes.
According to the sanctuary, Baarack was once an owned sheep that had been ear-tagged. The thick matted fleece across his face, however, seems to have pulled these out.
Most domesticated sheep species require annual shearing as a result of human selective breeding. Sheep are descended from wild animals with coats that shed and develop naturally with the seasons.
"Whilst his hooves were in great condition from running over the rocks in the forest, he was in a bit of a bad way," Kyle Behrend from the sanctuary told Reuters. "He was underweight, and due to all of the wool around his face he could barely see."
Baarack The Sheep: How is This Wild Animal Doing Now
Baarack is doing much better after getting his shave. He's fitting in well with the other sheep at the sanctuary. A video of his transformation was also created by the sanctuary, which went viral on TikTok.
"No longer shall he struggle for food and shelter, no longer will he be at the mercy of predators or the elements, and no longer will he be forgotten."
The wool taken from Baarack would be enough to knit 61 sweaters or 490 pairs of men's socks, according to The Guardian.
Baarack's world looks a lot happier now that he's no longer forced to gaze through a matted, crusty fleece curtain. With rescue workers at Edgar's Mission nursing the underweight sheep back to wellness, it's fur that finishes wool.
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