Baarack the sheep - 3rd March 2021

This merino ram has a new fleece on life following his first trip to the barbers in half a decade.

The hirsute ovine, dubbed Baarack by rescuers, was stumbled upon roving a forest in Victoria State, Australia, with an extraordinarily overgrown wool coat matted with mud and debris. Baarack was then promptly shorn of 35 kilograms of wool at Edgar's Mission Farm Sanctuary near Melbourne. Founder Pam Ahern estimates that from the size of the fleece, the sheep had last seen a pair of shears five years ago.

Baarack seems to have survived through sheer luck, as an overgrown fleece hinders sheep's movement and in the heat of an Australian summer, can endanger a lamb's life.

The 35 kilogram mammoth woolly coat is a little shy of the world record, currently held by Baarack's late compatriot Chris who was relieved of 41 kilograms of wool in 2015.

Baarack's metamorphosis from matted mutton to spring lamb has been shared millions of times on TikTok, making him somewhat of a social media celebrity.

The ram has now adjusted to his new weight and is perhaps feeling a little sheepish over his newfound fame.