Who's the daddy? Park keepers turn detective over paternity mystery

But, despite this being the usual time of year with spring lamb season, this was no ordinary birth…

As the keepers were going about their usual business, they looked equally puzzled as they saw this completely unexpected arrival and so begun the detective investigation to discover: who was the daddy?

The gestation period of a sheep is around five months. But during this time, all of the only two Cameroon sheep (who are ewes) had been in the park with the other female sheep. Not one tup (male sheep) in sight. As far as staff were aware, anyway…

MYSTERY: The new Cameroon lamb. Picture: Lake District Wildlife Park

Calendars were looked at, dates were checked, and the investigation begun on how this little lamb could have possibly been conceived.

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After much pondering and many conversations with the Park Manager later, the conclusion is as follows: when the Cameroon sheep were in one of the estate fields before moving down to the park, they must have had a visitor.

CUTE: The new lamb. Picture: Lake District Wildlife Park

The Soay sheep were in a neighbouring field and somehow the Saoy tup (male) must have decided to go on a little adventure.

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This would have involved breaking through the fence, mating with the female Cameroon and then going back to his flock.

All of this was done very stealthily, and he covered his tracks well!

VIEW: A vista of the park. Picture: Lake District Wildlife Park

The sheep are checked daily by the staff and there were no signs at all that he had been on a visit but either way, Armathwaite Hall is excited to welcome their newest lamb to their wildlife family!