Fiona's Lambs Receive Names Inspired by Shrek Films
The offspring of the sheep once described as the loneliest in Britain have finally been named.
Fiona gained public attention in October 2023 after she was rescued from the foot of a steep cliff at the Cromarty Firth and subsequently rehomed at a farm in Dumfries.
She was named after Princess Fiona from the Shrek films, and farmer Ben Best has continued this theme by naming her lambs, born earlier this month, Fergus and Felicia. These names correspond to Shrek and Fiona's children in the movie franchise.
Background on Fiona's Naming and Rescue
Fiona's name was inspired by a story involving another sheep found living alone in New Zealand several years ago. Professional shearer Cammy Wilson, who led the Scottish rescue operation, explained the connection:
"The New Zealand sheep was named after the animated character Shrek, so its Scottish counterpart had to be named Fiona, after the ogre's wife."
Fiona and her lambs currently reside at Dalscone Farm in Dumfries.
Details of Fiona's Discovery and Rescue
Fiona was first spotted at the base of cliffs in 2021 by a kayaker, but it was initially believed she would be able to return to the fields above on her own.
However, when the kayaker observed what was thought to be the same sheep two years later, concerns about her welfare were raised.
Despite the presence of "ample grazing" in the area, plans were made to conduct a rescue operation. The challenging terrain required specialist equipment to safely retrieve the animal.
Wilson, a sheep shearer from Ayrshire and presenter with BBC's Landward, assembled a team that successfully brought the sheep up the cliffs and into the care of Dalscone Farm.
