Chris, record-breaking fleece dies due to old age in Australia

The sheep with world’s greatest fleece, Chris mysteriously died in Australia. The Merino's death was declared on the Little Oak Sanctuary's Facebook page with Chris's owners expressing how devastated the news left them.  

World's heaviest fleece sheep dies due to old age

The animal generated global attention in 2015 after being spotted in the wild carrying what was described as six years' worth of wool. In the Facebook post, the owners wrote that He was so much more than the world record holder for having the heaviest fleece and that Chris will forever live in their hearts and memories, as someone and not as something.  

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Soon after the giant sheep was discovered in the wild, a life-saving haircut was performed removing approximately 41.1kg (88lb) of fleece, that later made the world record. On Tuesday, the caretakers at the New South Wales farm confirmed that Chris had died of old age. "We are heartbroken at the loss of this sweet, wise, friendly soul," the Little Oak Sanctuary wrote online. 

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Admirers pay tribute to Chris 

Fans of the legendary sheep have paid their tributes by sharing their condolences on the Facebook post addressing the overgrown ovine and his caretakers. According to reports, Chris survived for almost 10 years with most sheep living for a maximum of 12 years. Little Oak have claimed that the extreme stress and weight of his early life may have shortened his life span.   

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The great sheep was discovered wandering around Canberra in 2015 with an overgrown fleece that had not been shorn in years. Once he was caught, the caretakers urgently searched for a someone to shear the fleece and rid the animal of its extra weight. According to study, Merino sheep are bred for their wool, with constant shearing needed to preserve an animal's health. 

Chris's yarn attracted international attention when the 41.1-kilogram fleece broke wool world records. The animal became so famous that its fleece was displayed at the National Museum of Australia and a children's book was even written about Chris with proceeds going to the RSPCA, who first rescued him. Following the fleecing, the woolly wanderer was put up for adoption with hundreds volunteering to take him in. 

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