Britain’s loneliest sheep is set to become a mother of twins, more than two years after her dramatic cliff rescue captured hearts worldwide.
Dalscone Farm manager Ben Best shared the joyful news on Christmas Day, revealing Fiona the ewe is pregnant after recovering from the saga at her Dumfriesshire home.
“Fiona’s having twins. What have we done? We have actually got her in lamb. The pressure is on,” Mr Best posted on the farm’s Dalscone Daily Facebook page.
The pregnancy announcement was deliberately kept under wraps due to concerns attention might cause the famous sheep unnecessary stress.
Fiona first gained attention when a kayaker spotted her stranded at the base of cliffs near Balintore, Easter Ross, in 2021.
Remarkably, the same kayaker discovered the sheep remained trapped two years later at the Cromarty Firth location.
Jill Turner, from Brora, Sutherland, launched a campaign pleading for the ewe’s rescue, with a petition attracting over 55,000 signatures.
A JustGiving appeal raised more than four times its £2,500 target, with donations being sent from Australia, the USA and Canada.
The returned ewe is now pregnant with twins
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FACEBOOK: DALSCONE FARM
Specialist climbers executed what was described as an “epic” mission, using a truck-mounted winch, 200 metres of rope and a feed bag converted into an improvised sling to haul the three-year-old to safety.
Fiona arrived at Dalscone Farm in November 2023, where staff quickly noticed she initially had difficulty bonding with her fellow sheep.
“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 observed.
The farm’s webcam and social media channels attracted more than three million views in the days following her arrival as global interest in her story intensified.
Fiona has also bonded with two other ewes after moving into her new home
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SCOTTISH SPCA
Since returning to the farm, Fiona has bonded with fellow ewes Dozi and Amy at the farm.
“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,” the proud farmer shared.
Mr Best also shared that Fiona’s health has been closely monitored and improved.
The once-overweight ewe was placed on a strict diet, eventually slimming down to 90 kilograms.
She was then given hormones to assist conception before being paired with a Suffolk ram, a plan that proved remarkably 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,” he explained.
The ewe is undergoing regular blood tests as staff monitor her condition ahead of the anticipated February birth.
“She’s doing really well. She is the world’s most famous sheep,” Mr Best added.
Fiona’s extensive fleece, grown to immense proportions during her exile, was put to good use by the farm. It has become a set of bespoke tumble dryer balls and felted soap products available in their Christmas shop alongside other Dalscone fleeces.