In 1931, a bankrupt farmer abandoned 4,000 sheep on a sub-Antarctic island: Decades of isolation produced a flock with rare inherited traits

Sheep farming collapsed on Campbell Island in 1931, and about 4,000 animals were left behind on one of the most remote islands in New Zealand's territory. The farm's final leaseholder, John Warren, had taken over the operation only a few years earlier, but falling prices and severe transport problems made the venture increasingly difficult to sustain. Historical research published by the Australian National University explains that the effects of the Great Depression compounded the problem. Warren and his workers were stranded on the island for two years before being rescued in 1931, and the farm was abandoned.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!