14.01.13

RSPCA officers in West Wales have been kept busy rescuing sheep at the beginning of 2013.

On 2 January, RSPCA Inspectors Richard Abbott and Rohan Barker rescued a sheep that had been stranded on a ledge for 10 days. Video footage captured the rescue operation in Berea, near St. David’s.

As they descended the steep drop the sheep jumped toward a lower ledge, missed and fell to the bottom of the 50 metre cliff face. Fortunately, she fell from ledge to ledge breaking her fall and preventing injury, much to the surprise of our officers. The inspectors were able to reach the sheep and winched her to safety.

RSPCA Inspector Richard Abbott said:

These rescue operations can be long and tiring, posing serious challenges for RSPCA officers. However they are hugely rewarding and the joy expressed by this sheep more than makes up for the effort expended in rescuing her.

Later that same day our officers were called out for a second sheep rescue. This time in Marloes, near Broadhaven.

A sheep had been stranded on a ledge high above the sea, again for 10 days. Despite the farmer’s best efforts in feeding her and even placing wooden decking to facilitate her escape, she remained trapped on the cliff face. It took a team of five RSPCA officers to rescue the ewe using their rope rescue equipment.

RSPCA Inspector Richard Abbott said:

Our work can be amazingly varied and it’s not often that we are called out to multiple rescues on the same day. However we will always endeavour to safeguard an animal’s welfare when we can and this rescue operation was very satisfying as the sheep was brought back to safety.

We can't do it without you

We are only able to carry out rescues like this because of donations from the public.

• To help the RSPCA rescue animals like these, please text HELP to 78866 to give £3. Text costs £3 plus one standard network rate message.
   
• Find out more about what we do and read more of our rescue stories.