This documentary examines the fate of the wild sheep population which roams Campbell Island and the impact of the flock on this isolated natural reserve.
Campbell Island / Motu Ihupuku is an uninhabited subantarctic island in the Southern Ocean which has been used variously for whaling and sealing stations, attempted sheep farming ventures and meteorological stations. The island was declared a nature reserve in 1954 in recognition of its importance as a breeding site for many sea birds including the Southern Royal Albatross and the presence of megaherbs.
Since sheep farming ceased in 1931, a flock of feral sheep have remained on the island and have reverted to undomesticated behaviours. Thought to be a rare breed with a genetic resistance to foot rot and the ability to shed their fleece, they have been of interest to scientists and a sample of the breed was removed to mainland New Zealand for further study. Now as conservation efforts increase, the study of the sheep becomes part of regular scientific expeditions.