Shorn again: Sugar the sheep returns to work

Sugar the Sheep is celebrating the first anniversary of his rescue from Sugarloaf Reservoir in Melbourne’s north-east, following a weeks-long effort by volunteers led by Melbourne Water. 

Members of the public had reported sightings of Sugar during 2023 from a walking track that overlooked a pass where Sugar could sometimes be seen.  

“I left oats and carrots out at the same spot for Sugar to return when we were there, but when we approached on foot, he fled,” Operations and Maintenance Officer, Georgia Duncan, who worked at the treatment plant connected to the reservoir.  

“He kept running away so we called in more volunteers, with some on motorbikes, to guide Sugar into a blind alley and get him out of there.” 

“As access to Melbourne’s protected reservoir catchments is restricted, we had to go to these lengths and, as a herd animal, he would have been lonely.”  

Following his dramatic rescue, Sugar was temporarily housed at the Forever Friends Animal Sanctuary in the Yarra Ranges, where he was examined by a volunteer veterinarian from Vets for Compassion and sheared by the team at Shear Delight.   

A year later, Sugar is now due to be shorn again following his mammoth depilation last year, which removed nearly 12 kilograms of wool.  

He has since been rehomed on a hobby farm in Mt Evelyn where he is thriving and successfully employed as a lawnmower in exchange for regular meals and grooming.  

“We moved the sheep from the back paddock to allow access to an extensive lawn along the fence line, so we keep him busy,” said Georgia’s mum Melissa Duncan who adopted Sugar last year.  

Sugar’s origins remain a mystery, adding an element of intrigue to his story.  Based on his fleece at the time of the rescue, he may have been separated from his flock up to four years earlier. 

Melbourne Water staff wish Sugar well and continue to work with the community, sharing resources and providing expertise to protect our animals, whether wild or woolly. 

ENDS 

For media enquiries, please contact: 

03 9679 7004 
[email protected]