Chris (sheep)

Chris was found at Mulligan's Flat near the border of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). His mobility had been impaired as a result of the weight of the fleece he had grown over more than five years. Domestic sheep like Chris raised for their wool have been bred not to lose their coat and need to be shorn regularly, so leaving the sheep unshorn would have put the animal at great risk of infection and/or injury. Australian sheep are usually shorn annually and their fleeces usually weigh about . but the length of the fleece () meant it had no commercial value. == Adoption and life at Little Oak Sanctuary ==

Chris was put up for adoption by the RSPCA, who reported that the sheep needed to recover from his operation and adjust to a life without a "cumbersome blanket of wool", although his hind legs may have suffered some permanent imbalance from years of bearing the extra weight. Hundreds of people offered to adopt Chris but in September 2015 he was adopted by the Little Oak Sanctuary in New South Wales, where he gradually became more confident with people. The co-founder of the sanctuary reported that he liked having his head scratched. == Death and legacy ==

Chris died of natural causes aged 9 on 22 October 2019. In 2016, Chris's complete fleece, measuring long by wide, was acquired by the National Museum of Australia, where it was put on display and has become a popular exhibit. == See also ==