Cam-o-sheep To Confuse Cats...
A Scottish farmer has painted her sheep with stripes to confuse marauding mammoth moggies, but we reckon she's forgotten one small, but crucial detail...
Posted: 12 December 2003
by Jon
Here's a cracking Friday morning story for you - a
Scottish farmer has spray-painted her sheep with stripes to deter big
cat attacks.
Charlotte Brayley reportedly made up zebra-type striped spray
stencils then used red, green and purple paint to camouflage six of
her livestock after reported big cat attacks near her farm in
Ayrshire.
The striped effect breaks up the animal's outline,
confusing predators. The worry for walkers, of course, is that the
trend will catch on among sheep nationwide with innocent picnickers at
prime spots like Kinder Downfall, being stalked by effectively
invisible sheep SAS-stylee. And with internet access for livestock
increasing year on year, that may not be an empty worry.
Meanwhile, we reckon Charlotte's forgotten just one small detail.
Today's forecast in Scotland is for snow. Now let me see, normal
sheep? White. Camouflage sheep? Red, green and purple...
Camouflaged sheep, nine out of ten panthers prefer them. More
sheep at ananova.
Discuss this story
This puts me in mind of the donkeys they used to paint with black and white stripes in Tijuana, Mexico in a weak attempt to persuade the tourists they were actually getting a Zebra ride. I wasn't fooled and I suspect the big cats won't be either. I've always been fascinated by the mysterious cat reports that emerge from this country - it's possible that I watch too much late night cable - what do others think and has anyone actually bumped into one on a cold, dark night?
Posted: 12/12/2003 at 14:15
Not and returend to tell the tale... I did notice in the Ananova report that "As well as helping out on the family farm, she studies fine art and sculpture at Glasgow School of Art". So, next year's Turner Prize, perhaps? No more stupid than most of the offerings...
Posted: 12/12/2003 at 15:08
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