Meet ‘Shrek 2’: New Zealand shearer discovers enormous sheep living on a forestry block near his station
- An enormous sheep was discovered by a farmer on New Zealand’s North Island
- Rob Faulkner found Shrek 2 living in a forestry block next to his station
- He said Shrek 2 had gone ‘feral’ and avoided being shorn for five years
- The original Shrek from south New Zealand avoided capture for seven years
A New Zealand shearer has discovered a huge fluffy sheep – dubbed Shrek 2 – living next to his station.
Rob Faulkner, who works at Wairakaia Station on the North Island, said the wild sheep had avoided shearing for about five years by living in a nearby forestry block.
‘Every attempt we made in the past to muster the animal failed. Over time sheep like it become a bit feral and get very cunning,’ Mr Faulkner told The Gisborne Herald.
A New Zealand farmer discovered a massive sheep named Shrek 2 (pictured) that had been living in a forest block next to his station and avoided being shorn for five years
![Shrek 2 was named after another New Zealand ram named Shrek (pictured) who was discovered with a record breaking 27kg fleece in 2004 and gained international fame](https://i0.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/09/24/00/33549594-8766063-Shrek_2_was_named_after_another_New_Zealand_ram_named_Shrek_pict-a-1_1600904343109.jpg?resize=634%2C411&ssl=1)
Shrek 2 was named after another New Zealand ram named Shrek (pictured) who was discovered with a record breaking 27kg fleece in 2004 and gained international fame
Shrek 2 was named after a Merino that gained international fame in 2004 after he was found on New Zealand’s South Island with a fleece around 27kgs.
Mr Faulkner said he was in awe when he first discovered the enormous sheep.
‘A few weeks ago it got into the back paddock and I realised just what a magnificent sheep it was,’ he explained.
The shearer said he was unsure of the sheep’s weight or gender but would find out at the Poverty Bay A&P Spring Show.
‘We are working on a ‘guess the weight of the fleece’ competition, and at some time on the Friday afternoon of the show, Shrek 2 will be shorn,’ he said.
The original Shrek was discovered in Tarras, a tiny farming community, and evaded the annual shearing round-ups for seven years.
Shrek’s owner John Perriam described him as ‘an elderly statesman’.
![Shrek (pictured) avoided shearing for seven years by hiding in caves around his farm](https://i1.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/06/07/article-2000268-0C71BA3F00000578-953_634x511.jpg?resize=634%2C511&ssl=1)
Shrek (pictured) avoided shearing for seven years by hiding in caves around his farm
![Shrek was toured around the country for charity events in the back of a van by musterer Danny Devine (left) and owner John Perriam (right)](https://i1.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/06/07/article-2000268-0C72A93300000578-727_634x711.jpg?resize=634%2C711&ssl=1)
Shrek was toured around the country for charity events in the back of a van by musterer Danny Devine (left) and owner John Perriam (right)
Mr Perriam said Shrek was able to survive the winters and avoid detection by moving about a series of sheltered caves and by munching on small native shrubs.
‘It’s bizarre that we missed him seven years in a row,’ he said.
‘But from his point of view, it was the perfect environment.’
Shrek was one of about 17,000 sheep on the the 27,000-acre farm.
After Shrek became a star, Mr Perriam gave him his own barn and showroom.
Shrek even had a personal carer to look after him when he became sick, before being put to sleep at the age of 17 in 2011.
A ram dubbed Shrek II was also discovered in regional New South Wales in 2018.
He was located near the Warrumbungle National Park, 550 kilometres northwest of Sydney, with a massive fleece weighing in at 30kg.
![A ram also dubbed Shrek II (pictured) was found by New South Wales farmers in 2018 with more than 30kgs of wool](https://i0.wp.com/i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/07/20/11/4E6E4D1F00000578-5973409-image-a-38_1532084006882.jpg?resize=634%2C845&ssl=1)
A ram also dubbed Shrek II (pictured) was found by New South Wales farmers in 2018 with more than 30kgs of wool