World famous sheep known for its record-breaking wool dies

Chris the Merino sheep, known for his famed fleece, has passed away.

On Monday, Chris’ caretakers announced his passing through social media. The Little Oak Sanctuary broke the “heartbreaking news” on Facebook with a post that read:

“Chris the sheep has passed away. We are heartbroken at the loss of this sweet, wise, friendly soul.”

The famed Merino sheep made headlines worldwide back in 2015 for holding the Guinness World Record for the sheep with the most fleece. At the time, 41.1 kg of fleece was shaved off from Chris.

“Chris is known as the world record holder for having grown the heaviest fleece on record,” his carers added. “He was so much more than this, so very much more, and we will remember him for all that he was – someone, not something – here with us, not for us. RIP dear Chris.”

Back in 2015, Chris was spotted by the public wandering around Canberra. It is believed that he had been wandering about for almost six years and his fleece grown out of control. To have all his heavy fleece sheared, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) contacted a champion shearer.

Removing Chris’ fleece was considered a life-saving move. While it was necessary, it ended up earning him a record-breaking title. His shearer Ian Elkins was able to shave off the 41.1 kg of fleece on his body. This easily beat out a past record of 29kg from Big Ben — a sheep from New Zealand.