Who is Shrek the sheep and why is he so famous? Shrek the sheep was born in 1994 near Tarras, New Zealand. When he was around 4 years old, he decided he did not want to be shorn (have his wool cut, that is) and so he began to hide in caves to avoid being caught. When they finally did catch him, it took a professional 20 minutes to do the shearing, which was broadcast on national TV, CNN and the BBC. His fleece had enough wool to make 20 suits, which were all auctioned off to charity. Shrek became a national icon in New Zealand and was invited to meet the prime minister, Helen Clark, in 2004. He was made famous in photographs, videos, and children’s books; even though New Zealand has 10 times more sheep than people, Shrek stood out and captured the hearts of people with his delightful story. He raised money for charities, boosted the publicity of the wool industry, made public appearances around the country, contributed millions to the economy— and Shrek was even shorn on an floating iceberg to celebrate his 10th birthday. Continue reading
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