The loneliest sheep in Britain is now pregnant with twins after spending more than two years trapped at the base of cliffs. In 2023, Fiona the sheep was rescued and homed at a farm in the Dumfries, Scotland. Dalscone Farm manager Ben Best shared the heartwarming news on Christmas Day that the ewe is soon to be a mother after making a full recovery from her time of isolation.
Writing on the Dalscone Daily Facebook page, Mr Best wrote: “Fiona’s having twins. What have we done? We have actually got her in lamb. The pressure is on.”
The news was initially kept quiet due to concerns the attention may bring Fiona unnecessary stress. The announcement of her pregnancy follows a traumatic few years for the ewe, who was first spotted stranded at the base of cliffs near Balintore, Easter Ross, in 2021 by a kayaker.
Astonishingly, the same kayaker saw the lonely sheep two years later at the Cromarty Firth location, where it had been trapped.
Shortly after, Jill Turner launched a campaign to rescue the sheep which garnered over 55,000 signatures.
A JustGiving appeal had an initial target of £2,500, but it raised more than four times the amount with donations sent from around the world.
Using a truck-mounted winch, 200 metres of rope and a feed bag as a sling, specialist climbers rescued Fiona.
In November 2023, the ewe arrived at Dalscone Farm where she struggled to bond with other sheep at first. “She doesn’t socialise very well with other sheep, I think it is just from being down by herself and isolated for over two years at the bottom of that cliff… she has kind of forgotten how to be a sheep,” Mr Best said.
However, Fiona has since bonded with fellow ewes Dozi and Aamy.
He added: “We persevered, and she’s taken to them nicely now, so we’ve got no worries or fears now. It’s lovely that she’s found her feet again, and she’s quite happy with some friends.”
Fiona was placed on a strict diet to shed the excess weight she had gained and was given hormones to assist with conception. She was then paired with a Suffolk ram, which has now proved successful.
“Health-wise, she is doing great. She still has the arthritis in her front leg, but that’s something that will be there forever now; the weight loss has definitely helped that,” Mr Best said.
Fiona is due to give birth to her twins in February, and her health is regularly being monitored by farm staff.
