7 Jun 2011

Shrek the sheep put down

4:47 pm on 7 June 2011

A merino wether that made international headlines in 2004 when found carrying 27kg of fleece after evading musterers for years has died.

Shrek, who would have turned 17 this year, was euthanised on Monday morning at Bendigo Station in Central Otago.

The sheep became an international hit when he was finally caught and shorn of his fleece after avoiding musterers on the station for six years.

His story was the subject of three children's books. Proceeds from his various public outings were donated to the Cure Kids charity.