Wally: A Tiny Lamb Weighing Only 2 Pounds Fights the Battle for His Life and Survival
Wally was so small at birth that he nearly disappeared on the farm where he was born. The tiny lamb weighed just 2 pounds, far less than a healthy newborn lamb, and his first moments left Sarah Pohlner stunned.
Sarah and Ben Pohlner run a small market garden in Victoria, Australia, where sheep help keep the crops clean without pesticides or herbicides. But when one lamb arrived far smaller than expected, the family had to switch from farm routine to round-the-clock rescue mode.
Wally’s fight for survival quickly became the kind of story no one on the farm could ignore.
Pohlner has trained as a midwife and is working at a local hospital.
Considering her experience, she thought she would be capable of helping her sheep deliver their babies. However, she was in for a surprise.
The size of the lamb was so much smaller than normal that it almost went unnoticed. Pohlner said:
“I initially thought he was just a bit of afterbirth on the ground, but when he started moving, I was not quite sure what was going on. His twin was full-sized and a healthy lamb.”
The tiny baby lamb went unnoticed by his mother as well.
Pohlner named him Wally. She said:
“The mother had just wandered off with the healthy twin and left Wally by himself to die. I have never seen a lamb that small.”
It echoes the ill calf’s rescue, when a dog showed up unexpectedly and turned everything around.
Normally, a healthy baby lamb weighs around 6 to 11 pounds when it is a newborn.
In contrast, Wally weighed only 2 pounds. From her experience, Pohlner understood that Wally did not have much chance of survival.
But she could not bring herself to leave that poor baby alone. She decided to save him at any cost.
“He fit comfortably in the cup of your hands at that stage,” Pohlner said.
If he survived the night, Pohlner knew it would be nothing short of a miracle.
Still, she brought him inside. Pohlner and her three daughters kept him warm and fed him with the help of a syringe.
Their efforts worked, and Wally not only survived the night but is also thriving. He is now healthy and has gained weight as well.
He often joins his humans on their farm and receives pats from customers, too.
Although Wally is getting healthy, he is still struggling.
He contracted a mysterious eye disease that has left him blind. His human parents still dote on him and are trying to get whatever help is needed to recover his eyesight, if possible.
They have taken him to all the eye specialists in their area. Finally, his surgery is scheduled, and everyone is praying and hoping for his recovery.
Wally is a happy-go-lucky lamb despite his struggles.
He enjoys receiving snuggles and pats from his family. His favorite activity is playing around the house and garden.
Considering the joy he has brought to everyone around him, his parents believe he will overcome every adversity. They are very hopeful for his bright future.
And if you think tiny is surprising, see how a 77-pound sheep’s makeover left everyone stunned in his unrecognizable before-and-after.
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