NZ's famous sheep gets TV haircut
| A renegade New Zealand sheep that managed to evade the shearers for six years has finally had a haircut. Shrek, the Merino sheep, was shorn live on national television by top shearers David Fagan and Peter Casserley. The 10-year-old sheep had managed to roam freely on New Zealand's South Island for more than six years before being finally rounded up. Shrek's giant fleece - possibly the largest ever - is to be auctioned off for children's medical charities. Shrek went under the shearer's blade during a live half-hour news programme on TV New Zealand. Correspondents said the contrast between the gigantic woolly mammal that entered the studio and the much leaner version that left could not have been greater. Bendigo hill station owner John Perriam told reporters that Shrek had managed to evade capture for six years by hiding in a cave. "We didn't know he was there," he said, adding that when he was finally spotted they did not immediately recognise him as a sheep. "He looked like some biblical creature." Mr Perriam said Shrek was shorn with scissors to ensure a thin layer of wool was left in place to protect him from the oncoming winter. The 27kg fleece - enough to make 20 large men's suits - is to be auctioned off over the internet. It is unclear what the future now holds for Shrek himself. He is too old to be sold for mutton, but a new career in marketing may now lie ahead - promoting New Zealand's lucrative trade in wool.
| 新西兰的一只绵羊为了逃避剪羊毛出逃六年后，最终还是难逃剪羊毛的命运。 新西兰最棒的剪毛师大卫·费根和彼德·革塞为这只名叫“史瑞克”的美利奴绵羊剪羊毛，电视台向全国现场直播了整个过程。 这只10岁大的绵羊在最终被围捕之前，在新西兰南岛上自由自在地游荡了6年多。 史瑞克身上厚重的羊毛很可能是有史以来最大的，它将被拍卖，用来资助儿童医疗慈善事业。 新西兰电视新闻节目对史瑞克被迫剪羊毛的全过程进行了半小时的直播。 有记者说，走进直播间前那只巨大的绵羊和离开直播间时苗条了很多的绵羊之间的差异太大了。 他说，“我们不知道它在那里，”他接着补充说，当它最终被发现时，人们并没有立刻认出它是只绵羊。 “它看上去像《圣经》里的动物。” 佩里亚姆说，史瑞克的羊毛被剪掉，身上还保留了一薄层羊毛以抵御即将到来的寒冬。 总共27公斤重的羊毛足够做20套大号的男式西服，这些羊毛将在互联网上拍卖。 史瑞克的未来将会如何现在还不得而知。由于它的年纪太大，羊肉已没法卖了。但是，如今一个新的职业正在等着它——市场营销——推动新西兰获利丰厚的羊毛贸易。 renegade: 背弃的；脱离的 |