CHINESE HERD OF SHEEP HAS BEEN CIRCLING FOR 12 STRAIGHT DAYS
A herd of sheep in China has been walking in a circle for almost two weeks now, and no one seems to really know why.
The bizarre behavior was captured on security video at a sheep farm in northern China’s Inner Mongolia region. In a video released by Chinese media, dozens of sheep can be seen walking clockwise in a large circle, as other animals stare from inside the circle. Although it has been reported that the sheep appear to be perfectly healthy, it is unclear if the animals ever stop to eat and drink or if others take their places in the circle when that happens.
The owner of the sheep farm, identified as Ms. Miao, told reporters that the bizarre spectacle began on November 4, with just a handful of sheep but that in the following days dozens of others joined in. Interestingly, although the farm consists of 34 sheep pens, only those in number 13 have been acting strangely.
The video of the sheep walking in circles went viral in China soon after being shared online, and several theories about the bizarre movement have been debated since. The most popular theory is that the sheep are infected with bacteria that cause a condition known as listeriosis, or “circle disease.”
According to the Merck Manual, “Initially, affected animals are depressed, disoriented, and without appetite. They may walk themselves into corners, lean against solid objects, or circle toward their affected legs.”
However, this theory has already been disputed, because sheep and goats suffering from listeriosis generally die within 14 to 48 hours after showing the first symptoms. The sheep in the viral video have been circling for 12 days straight, and they seem perfectly healthy.
Although this kind of behavior is considered uncommon, it is not unheard of. In fact, back in 2018, hundreds of reindeer on Russia’s Kola Peninsula, in the Arctic Circle, were observed walking in circular patterns for no apparent reason. Maybe sheep (and reindeer) will just be sheep.
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