Sheep Missing 5 Years Found Living with Kangaroos

A missing sheep was found living with a mob of kangaroos!

Sugar the sheep, who escaped from an Australian farm five years ago, was spotted living among kangaroos at Sugarloaf Reservoir, a reservoir about 20 miles from Melbourne, according to Forever Friends Animal Rescue (FFAR).

The volunteer-run charity — which is dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of vulnerable animals, per its website — shared the story of Sugar's long-overdue rescue in an Instagram post on Monday.

According to FFAR, rescuers saved Sugar from the reservoir six months after he was first spotted among the kangaroos.

Sugar was brought to the charity's Gladysdale Sanctuary in Victoria, Australia, where he "received a long overdue makeover and check up to ensure he's doing okay."

The sheep also received a much-needed haircut. "After two attempts," the thick coat of wool Sugar had grown out over the past five years was sheared off.

The excess fleece removed from Sugar weighed 12.6 kilograms — or a little under 28 lbs. — per the rescue. In FFAR's Instagram video, it takes three volunteers to hold up the sheep's newly shorn wool.

Georgia Duncan, a water supply operator with Melbourne Water, led the sheep rescue mission and shared more details about Sugar's journey in a Facebook post from Melbourne Water on Sunday.

According to the company, the rescue was executed thanks to a combined effort between FFAR, Vets For Compassion, and Duncan, who first located the missing creature with the kangaroos.

"In the catchments surrounding our city's reservoirs, wildlife is abundant and diverse, especially on the walking tracks," the post read. "Keep an eye out for wedge-tailed eagles, black-tailed wallabies, echidnas, kangaroos, and an abundance of other wildlife. But Melbourne Water staff were surprised to learn about lost Sugar, far from home."

In a Monday news post, Melbourne Water revealed that the team had to "meticulously plan" for Sugar's rescue for weeks.

The sheep's lead rescuer — and soon-to-be owner — Duncan added, "Recognising the importance of ensuring the safety of all animals and preserving wildlife in the community, the team of volunteers promptly sprang into action to rescue the stranded sheep."

"Their expertise in handling such situations, combined with their deep commitment to enhancing life and liveability in the community, ensured that the rescue mission was a resounding success," Melbourne Water said of the rescuers.

Nicole de Haan, operations manager for Vets for Compassion, told the company that the rescue "serves as a reminder of the importance of community involvement in safeguarding and protecting animals in need."

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According to FFAR, the sheep will remain at the sanctuary until he "receives a clean bill of health," and then he will head home to Duncan.

"It seems like his kangaroo friends took good care of him, and Sugar will soon get to spend the rest of his days with Georgia," the rescue wrote.

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