Sheep rescued from seacliff in dramatic abseiling scenes
Dozens of sheep have had to be rescued from a cliff edge in an operation lasting days.
Around 60 sheep were believed to be trapped at Mathry, Pembrokeshire – possibly after being scared over by a dog.
Due to the steepness of the cliff they were unable to get back up themselves and have been spread over a wide area in groups.
Specialist trained rope rescue and boat rescue teams from the RSPCA began the challenging operation on Monday. They were also joined by officers from Mid and West Fire & Rescue Service’s rope rescue teams and Dyfed Powys Police’s rural crime team.
The rescue has involved officers abseiling down the seacliff, with the sheep rescued and bagged, and brought back to safety. Other sheep lower down the cliff have been rescued by officers on the boat rescue team from the sea.
RSPCA animal welfare officer Andrew Harris, who has been leading this operation, said the rescue is likely to go on for a few more days.
He said: “This has been a highly complex and challenging operation to ensure these sheep are brought to safety. Due to the large numbers of sheep that are in need of help, the challenging location along with the difficult weather conditions, this has so far been a tough task, but we are making progress.
“On Monday around 40 sheep were successfully rescued and on Tuesday three sheep were taken to safety. Tuesday's weather conditions made the operation a much more difficult task. A couple of sheep that were able to, were coaxed up the cliff themselves as well."
“We would very much like to thank everyone who has helped us this week, which once again demonstrates the strength of our multi-agency partnerships we have across Wales.”
On Wednesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the RSPCA said 40 sheep had been rescued.
She added: "Around 40 sheep have so far been successfully rescued by rescue teams. Some of the sheep have now found their way to an area that does have some forage, and with the recent rain have had some moisture also.
“Plans to rescue these remaining sheep are now underway, with teams likely to return in the coming days.”
