Arabic version: اختفاء حمل نادر من سلالة فالاي بلاكنوز في تلال أديلايد

According to ABC News, a days-old Valais Blacknose lamb valued at up to $25,000 has disappeared from an Adelaide Hills property, prompting its owners to ask the public to watch for the distinctive animal.

Vet and hobby farm owner Madeleine Babos recently began breeding the Swiss Valais Blacknose sheep after being interested in the breed for a decade. The sheep, originally from the Swiss Alps, are known for fluffy white coats, dark faces, spiral horns and dog-like personalities. The missing ewe was born last week and vanished several days later.

Ms Babos said she noticed the lamb’s mother sniffing and pacing, then realised the singleton lamb was gone. She said the afternoon disappearance and the presence of other vulnerable lambs in the paddock made her less concerned that a predator was responsible. She said someone may have seen the lamb near the fence and taken it home as a pet.

Babos and her partner, Alasdair Rodgers, invested in the breeding project with hopes of earning a return within several years. Their first purchase was the missing lamb’s mother, Sugar, which cost $25,000. Rodgers said the sheep were intended to help the family get back on its feet after he stopped work for more than a year to care for their middle daughter following health complications after her birth.

The breed arrived in Australia through Victoria in 2020 and has since spread to Tasmania, South Australia and New South Wales. Babos said police told her livestock theft was common and said the pure ewe lamb had very distinct markings. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers SA on 1800 333 000.