The bright side: Shrek a shear delight

His preferred mode of transport is by limo or Jeep Cherokee, he wears designer clothing and now has his own complex, complete with office.

Not bad for a sheep who eight months ago was living in a cave and had not seen a shearer for an estimated six years.

Shrek the merino wether is a global celebrity and the book written about his six-year sojourn in the South Island high country is so popular it will have a second press run.

Owner John Perriam said 8000 copies of the book, written by Tarras School pupils, have been sold to raise $100,000. A calendar of images of 9-year-old Shrek looks set to be just as popular.

Mr Perriam, of Bendigo Station, describes Shrek's rise to fame as "left-field".

"It's just something that came on. You couldn't write a marketing script for it if you tried."

Mr Perriam says the past eight months have been a torrent of public engagements but Shrek is taking it in his stride.

"In terms of agriculture you probably couldn't get a more worthless animal, but he's gone way beyond that. He has his own personality."

Pet days, rest-home visits and public appearances fill his weeks.

He travelled to Tarras School for his book launch by limousine and is off to Queenstown for a rest-home visit todayby Jeep, complete with a Christmas coat and reindeer antlers.

"He gets his coat on and we wash his face and he knows he's off and he just loves it."

Shrek has raised $150,000 for Cure Kids, the Child Health Research Foundation, Mr Perriam says.

He is working on keeping up the star merino's profile for the cause.

"We're thinking along the lines if he's still going strongly we could form a Shrek charitable trust."

Mr Perriam says The Lord of the Rings movies raised New Zealand's profile but Shrek is also known worldwide.

"He's raised so much and had a zero budget and that's quite remarkable, really."