KEY POINTS:
A limelight-shunning ewe that disappeared from a Tauranga farm has been found living the quiet life in a nearby quarry - seven years after last being seen.
With likely comparisons to the infamous outlaw sheep Shrek, discovered during a Bendigo Station muster in April 2004 after six years roaming Central Otago hills, Fiona enjoyed a last day on the run until bailed up in the Welcome Bay quarry on Tuesday.
Covered in gorse and dirt, the severely dagged romney-cross was caught by owner Murray Craig and Tauranga A&P Show vice-president Rod Griffin.
Mr Griffin said Fiona's legend grew as truckies, who used the quarry, caught fleeting glimpses of the ewe. But it would disappear quickly into gorse bushes where it had made a home. .
"There were other guys who said they'd seen this sheep up there but she'd always run away.
"So we were having a beer at New Year's and thought, 'How about we go and catch this thing - it could be good publicity for our show."'
In the end, catching Fiona, who was carrying about 10kg of wool, was not too hard.
The ewe was in "pretty good health" but in dire need of a good clean-up.
"She couldn't run too far because the weight of the wool was too much and it was pretty wet because it was down near the creek when we found it," said Mr Griffin.
"She was pretty heavy and it took two of us to drag her to the tractor ... the wool is just so long, maybe eight to 10 inches [20-25cm]."
Mr Griffin said shearing Fiona would be one of the attractions at next weekend's Tauranga A&P Show.
But he was not sure if Fiona would have celebrity status like Shrek, whose discovery made international headlines.
Since his capture, Shrek's profile has helped to raise $130,000 for Cure Kids.
His first shearing was televised nationally and beamed around the world.
Mr Griffin was not sure if the ewe had any future with the wether either.
"I think he's sort of retired now and has his own paddock. We haven't really thought that far ahead but she will probably just go back to the farm."
