What started as a routine morning quickly turned into a meaningful rescue for City of Swan Community Safety Rangers, after a call came from a Herne Hill resident who found distressed sheep on their property.
On arrival, Rangers discovered a mother sheep (ewe) and two lambs near the riverbank. Sadly, one lamb had already passed away.
The team secured the surviving lamb and quickly located the ewe, which had fallen down a steep bank and couldn't climb back up to safety.
With river levels expected to rise, time was critical. Working together from both the water's edge and the top of the bank, Rangers safely rescued the ewe and transported the pair to the City's Livestock Yard.
Once reunited, the pair quickly began feeding.
Thanks to an ear tag, the owners were identified, and the City is thrilled to share that both the ewe and her lamb were safely returned home.
Several City Rangers have completed Technical Large Animal Rescue training, equipping them with the skills to respond to challenging situations like this.
One of the Rangers involved in the rescue shared why this experience reinforces their motivation to serve the community.
"It's actions like these that remind us why we chose this career path, and the efforts of the Rangers and members of the community should be recognised," they said.
"We thank the homeowner who promtly reported the incident and assisted throughout the rescue."
If you see livestock that have strayed onto your property or are in a public place, report it to the City's Community Safety team on (08) 9267 9267.
