Sheep

The domestic sheep is one of the oldest domesticated animals in the world, first raised for wool, meat, and milk in the region of modern-day Iran and Iraq roughly 10,000–11,000 years ago. Today there are more than 1,000 recognized sheep breeds worldwide, varying enormously in size, wool type, and color. Sheep are strongly social flock animals with a powerful instinct to stick together, and their eyes have horizontal, rectangular pupils that give them a remarkably wide field of view — nearly 300 degrees — to watch for predators from almost every direction.

Plumpton Park Zoo is home to rescued domestic sheep as well as Valais Blacknose sheep, a striking breed originally from the Valais canton in the Swiss Alps. Valais Blacknose sheep are instantly recognizable for their thick, curly white fleece set off by a jet-black face, ears, knees, and hocks — a look that’s made the breed internet-famous in recent years and earned it a reputation as one of the friendliest, most photogenic sheep breeds around. Both rams and ewes typically grow curved horns, and the breed was originally developed as a hardy, cold-tolerant animal suited to steep alpine terrain.

Meet our rescued sheep at Plumpton Park Zoo — plan your visit.