Shrek the sheep
Shrek (C), the hermit merino sheep who has evaded shearing for six years by hiding in a cave during the annual muster, is flanked by TV presenter Paul Holmes (L) and owner John Perriam (R) in Cromwell, 28 April 2004, before being shorn on live worldwide television. Getty Images

Two Australian farmers, Peter and Netty Hazell, claim to have found the world's woolliest sheep, Shaun, whose fleece reportedly weighs over 20 kgs, Sky News reported today (27 August).

Six-year-old Shaun has, most likely, never been sheared.

Shaun was spotted wandering around on farmland owned by the Hazells near the town of Oatlands, 84 kms from Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, which is a largely rural island state in Australia's southeastern coast.

The Hazells expressed their disbelief in seeing Shaun survive in his present state for so long, despite his eyesight being affected by the thickening fleece.

"He couldn't see very well because of the wool over his face, so I snuck up behind him and grabbed ahold of him," said Peter Hazell.

Hazells are hoping Shaun can win them some limelight by breaking the record for the world's most fleece-yielding animal when they shear him this week.

"They usually fall on their back and can't get up, get fly struck or the hot weather gets them. We just could not believe that a sheep could have so much wool," said the Hazells.

Shaun's fleece is reportedly sufficient enough to create three or four fleece sweaters.

The current record holder rests with a sheep called Shrek, found in New Zealand, who was captured in 2004 and upon being sheared, his fleece was estimated to weigh 27 kgs (60 lb) and contained enough wool to generate 20 large men's suits.

Shrek was put down in June 2011, as owner John Perriam, said his health was deteriorating at 16 years.

Australia