Distinctive lamb worth $25K vanishes from Adelaide farm
A newborn Swiss Valais Blacknose lamb worth up to $25,000 has disappeared from an Adelaide Hills hobby farm, with its owners suspecting theft.
The lamb went missing several days after birth from a property in the Adelaide Hills. Owner Madeleine Babos, a vet, believes someone took the newborn as a pet rather than a predator attacking.
Valais Blacknose sheep come from the Swiss Alps and are prized for their fluffy white coats, dark faces, spiral horns and docile nature. Babos and her partner bought the lamb's mother for $25,000 to start breeding the rare sheep.
They planned to recover financially after spending over a year caring for their daughter's health needs. The breed only arrived in Australia in 2020 and remains uncommon.
Police told Babos that livestock theft is common in the region.
- Up to $25,000
- Lamb value
- Swiss Alps
- Breed origin
- $25,000 for Sugar
- Mother's cost
- 2020 via Victoria
- Australia arrival
Why it mattersRare animals attract thieves, and this case highlights farm security risks for hobby breeders raising valuable stock.
AustraliaAdelaide Hills residents are urged to watch for the distinctive fluffy, dark-faced lamb; it remains easily recognized by locals.
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