Fiona the sheep with her rescuers
A group of farmers sprung into action to rescue a ewe who had been stranded at the bottom of a cliff in the Scottish Highlands.
The ewe, dubbed Britain's loneliest sheep, hit the headlines when a canoe group posted pictures of her online after realising the sheep had been there for at least two years.
Cammy Wilson, a Scottish sheep farmer well known for his YouTube Channel, The Sheep Game, told Farmers Guardian he became aware of the situation when the photos came to light.
The Sheep Game
"I could see she was healthy, despite the amount of wool.
"I got in touch with the farmer and spoke to him, at the time he did not want us risking ourselves or getting injured rescuing her," he said.
"People started turning up unannounced and uninvited. The farmer was concerned, it is an isolated farm."
He said while the people who arrived had good intentions, the farmer was concerned others would follow.
Mr Wilson said he had wanted to get involved after seeing so many comments online stating that farmers did not care about their animals.
"I said to him, let us take this out of your hands. You are not asking us, we are saying we are going to do it."
With the farmer's help, they made a plan to reach the ewe.
Mr Wilson said while it had not been difficult, it had been very dangerous, with the team very aware of the danger if they had slipped.
Fiona, the sheep, has now been relocated to Dalscone Farm, a farm park on the outskirts of Dumfries.
Animal activists
Animal activists have reacted angrily to the news.
Animal Rising said they had been preparing to rescue the sheep but accused the landowner of facilitating a ‘covert operation' with Mr Wilson's team.
It called for Fiona to be sent to an animal ‘sanctuary' instead.
See also: Primary schoolchildren targeted by vegan activists
Mr Wilson said the activists seemed to have believed Fiona would become their ‘talisman' and raise money from her.
"We have not taken a penny off her, even though it has been offered," he said, adding anyone who wanted to donate had been asked to donate to RSABI.
Mr Wilson added the story had gone ‘absolutely mental'.
"It is insane, the amount of coverage, we cannot believe it."
See also: Farmers Guardian Podcast: The Sheep Game - YouTube farmer on social media rise
