Sheep Farmer Gareth Wyn Jones has issued a heartbreaking warning as calls to rescue "Britain's loneliest sheep" grow stronger.
The sheep, which has been stuck at the foot of a cliff in the Scottish highlands for two years, was first spotted in 2021 by a kayaker, and has recently been spotted again by the same eyewitness.
Jillian Turner was kayaking along Moray Firth’s east Highland coast in 2021 when she first spotted the sheep.
Following her most recent sighting of the lone animal, drones have now been sent to the area to check on the animal.
A sheep in the Scottish Highlands has been dubbed "Britain's loneliest sheep"
Jill Turner / GB News
Speaking to Ellie Costello and Martin Daubney on GB News, sheep farmer Gareth Wyn Jones shared his insight on the lonely sheep, and the chances of it being rescued.
Jones claimed the sheep looked like it could have been "in a shipwreck" and revealed that sheep are "good swimmers".
He added that as long as the sheep has got enough grazing and is quite happy there, it "could be shipwrecked there for the rest of its life".
Jones admitted: "It's quite sad, really. You know, I think there'd be plenty of people that would have gone there and taken it from there."
Ellie then asked Jones about the psychology of sheep, and the chances that "Britain's loneliest sheep" will really feel lonely on its own in the cliffs.
Jones said: "I'll be totally honest, they're the most suicidal animal on God's earth and always trying to kill themselves, and looking for new ways to kill themselves every single day. So, you know, to go and rescue that sheep might be a suicide mission for somebody because you're going to have to catch that sheep on a cliff edge.
"Maybe some of these super vets could dart it with a tranquilliser and put it to sleep and then catch it, tie its legs, throw it on a boat and bring it home."
Jones continued: "I don't really worry about its psychologies, that sheep will survive over the winter if it's got plenty of grazing and fresh water. So I wouldn't worry too much, but that coat looks very heavy. Especially if it rains, it's going to be something really awkward for it. But during the winter months, not too bad."
Gareth Wyn Jones revealed sheep are 'the most suicidal animal on God's earth'
GB News
Jones expressed concern for the health of the sheep, particularly with its growing coat: "If it was spring, I think I'd be saying go and get it or euthanise it or put it to sleep. It wouldn't be fair for it to suffer in any way. Shearing is very, very important for these animals and if we don't shear them, there's a good possibility they can die from fly strike and maggots and other diseases as well.
"So, you know, to keep the management of sheep there's a lot of work, and sometimes they have worms as well and they need to be dosed.
"But that one looks healthy, it looks happy. So you know, it might do a u-turn and come home one day. But I don't think at the moment it looks like it."
In a statement, Scottish SPCA chief superintendent Mike Flynn said: “The Scottish SPCA is aware of the sheep that is stranded at the bottom of a cliff in Brora. The sheep has ample grazing in the area but we have not been able to ascertain who the sheep belongs to. We will continue to have further checks when the weather allows and it is safe to do so.”
