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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/06/worlds-last-flock-rare-new-zealand-campbell-island-sheep-stolen-and-butchered
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| Part of world's last flock of rare New Zealand sheep stolen and butchered | Part of world's last flock of rare New Zealand sheep stolen and butchered |
| (1 day later) | |
| The Campbell Island flock, a hardy, subantarctic breed who are unusual in standing up to give birth, are down to just 30 animals after the theft | |
| Eleanor Ainge Roy | |
| Wed 6 Sep 2017 01.15 BST | |
| Last modified on Wed 6 Sep 2017 01.45 BST | |
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| Five rare sheep who descend from a unique subantarctic island population have been stolen and slaughtered, reducing the population of Campbell Island breed to a mere 30 animals. | Five rare sheep who descend from a unique subantarctic island population have been stolen and slaughtered, reducing the population of Campbell Island breed to a mere 30 animals. |
| Daniel Wheeler was dismayed to discover five of his Campbell Island sheep had been stolen from his farm in central Christchurch, with the thieves leaving behind the intestines of the dead animals and the baby lambs that had been gestating in their wombs, which included a set of twins. | Daniel Wheeler was dismayed to discover five of his Campbell Island sheep had been stolen from his farm in central Christchurch, with the thieves leaving behind the intestines of the dead animals and the baby lambs that had been gestating in their wombs, which included a set of twins. |
| “With rare breeds it is critical to keep a minimum number of sheep to prevent in-breeding, so this is a massive blow,” said Wheeler. | “With rare breeds it is critical to keep a minimum number of sheep to prevent in-breeding, so this is a massive blow,” said Wheeler. |
| “I don’t think they had any idea that they were rare sheep ... but they are invaluable. The value in them is in their unique genetics. They are irreplaceable.” | “I don’t think they had any idea that they were rare sheep ... but they are invaluable. The value in them is in their unique genetics. They are irreplaceable.” |
| Although they are white and resemble New Zealand sheep, the Campbell Island breed have distinct characteristics such as giving birth standing up and lambs being able to walk within minutes of being born. | Although they are white and resemble New Zealand sheep, the Campbell Island breed have distinct characteristics such as giving birth standing up and lambs being able to walk within minutes of being born. |
| According to the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand, the first sheep were introduced to Campbell Island in 1895 and farmed in the harsh climate 700km south of New Zealand’s South Island till 1931, when the Great Depression ended farming on the island and the flock of 4,000 turned loose. | According to the Rare Breeds Conservation Society of New Zealand, the first sheep were introduced to Campbell Island in 1895 and farmed in the harsh climate 700km south of New Zealand’s South Island till 1931, when the Great Depression ended farming on the island and the flock of 4,000 turned loose. |
| The sheep then roamed wild for 40 years and adapted to their inhospitable home, with numbers quickly swelling in a short space of time. | The sheep then roamed wild for 40 years and adapted to their inhospitable home, with numbers quickly swelling in a short space of time. |
| In the 1970s the New Zealand government decided the feral sheep were destroying too much indigenous vegetation and the majority were culled, with the remainder killed in the late 1980s. | In the 1970s the New Zealand government decided the feral sheep were destroying too much indigenous vegetation and the majority were culled, with the remainder killed in the late 1980s. |
| Wheeler’s Campbells are descended from 14 sheep rescued from the island in the 1970s, and he purchased the flock from Ag Research because he was fascinated by their history and unique habits. | Wheeler’s Campbells are descended from 14 sheep rescued from the island in the 1970s, and he purchased the flock from Ag Research because he was fascinated by their history and unique habits. |
| They are the last remaining flock of Campbell Island sheep in the world. | They are the last remaining flock of Campbell Island sheep in the world. |
| “No one else had any real interest in them, and part of the reason for that is because they’re white, they look like ordinary sheep, when in actual fact they’re far from normal,” said Wheeler. | “No one else had any real interest in them, and part of the reason for that is because they’re white, they look like ordinary sheep, when in actual fact they’re far from normal,” said Wheeler. |
| “And now that I’ve got them if I didn’t have them no one would and they’d be gone.” | “And now that I’ve got them if I didn’t have them no one would and they’d be gone.” |
| Bill Regnault, a former director of wool studies at Massey University, visited Campbell Island for the initial government cull and noted the sheep were strong, hardy animals that displayed some distinctly different traits from mainland sheep. | Bill Regnault, a former director of wool studies at Massey University, visited Campbell Island for the initial government cull and noted the sheep were strong, hardy animals that displayed some distinctly different traits from mainland sheep. |
| “First impressions were of miserable, bedraggled animals with peat stained fleeces in various stages of shedding,” he wrote. | “First impressions were of miserable, bedraggled animals with peat stained fleeces in various stages of shedding,” he wrote. |
| “As we got to know them better, we noted that even the most miserable ewes could have good vigorous lambs”. | “As we got to know them better, we noted that even the most miserable ewes could have good vigorous lambs”. |
| Frustrated by the brazen theft, Wheeler posted graphic images of the dead lambs and ewes’ gutted intestines on Facebook over the weekend, asking for help in tracking down the thieves. | Frustrated by the brazen theft, Wheeler posted graphic images of the dead lambs and ewes’ gutted intestines on Facebook over the weekend, asking for help in tracking down the thieves. |
| The post elicited a rousing response from New Zealanders and sheep lovers overseas, including offers to graze the remaining Campbell Island sheep for free. Several leads are now being explored by police. | The post elicited a rousing response from New Zealanders and sheep lovers overseas, including offers to graze the remaining Campbell Island sheep for free. Several leads are now being explored by police. |
| “Why? Just why? Why would anyone do this. It’s barbaric,” wrote Zoe Rushton. | “Why? Just why? Why would anyone do this. It’s barbaric,” wrote Zoe Rushton. |
| Stock theft is an increasingly common crime in New Zealand, with the ministry of primary industries reporting incidents of illegal backyard butcheries are also on the rise. | Stock theft is an increasingly common crime in New Zealand, with the ministry of primary industries reporting incidents of illegal backyard butcheries are also on the rise. |
| The Federated Farmers rural security survey of 2016 (which had 1,200 respondents) found 26% of Kiwi farmers had stock stolen in the last five years and of those 75% were not covered by an insurance claim. The survey also showed 60% did not report the crime to the police, saying they felt the police were not interested in rural crime, didn’t have the resources to investigate it and convictions were rare. | The Federated Farmers rural security survey of 2016 (which had 1,200 respondents) found 26% of Kiwi farmers had stock stolen in the last five years and of those 75% were not covered by an insurance claim. The survey also showed 60% did not report the crime to the police, saying they felt the police were not interested in rural crime, didn’t have the resources to investigate it and convictions were rare. |
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