The sheep dubbed the world's cutest seem to be living up to their name with social media users around the world sharing the story of their appearance at the Agricultural Show in Christchurch.
Only a handful of farmers in New Zealand are breeding the Valois Blacknose.
One of them, Christine Reed, who took some of the sheep to the show, describes the Blacknose as looking like a poodle that's in fact a sheep, with their fluffy faces and curly topknot.
Social media users agreed - with thousands of likes and shares on RNZ's Facebook, and one Twitter user in the UK saying it is time to give politics a rest and appreciate the cuteness.
Right. That’s enough politics. Let’s all pause to appreciate the cuteness of the Valais Blacknose sheep from New Zealand. I’m going to open a petting zoo. Who will join me? pic.twitter.com/wMecrFAIAP
— P Λ U L F Λ R R E R (@paulmfarrer) November 15, 2018
Oh my god, they are perfection in a wool coat!
— Susan P (@KiwiSooz) November 15, 2018
Hi, I just discovered the valais blacknose sheep is a real thing in New Zealand, and I'm once again left wondering why I haven't moved to New Zealand already.
— Amanda Hocking (@amanda_hocking) November 15, 2018
And yes, we know they're actually a Swiss breed, but let's not split fibres.
( Cutest gang of Valais Blacknose sheep in Zermatt Switzerland. )
— Nature Inside (@nature1nside) November 13, 2018
PC:- Iryna Raichuk pic.twitter.com/Q4TgH2E8SX
La crianza de las ovejasde nariz negra (Valais Blacknose) continúa su expansión en el mundo, y ahora llega a Nueva Zelandia, donde la consideran "la cosa más linda en cuatro patas". ¿Qué te parecen? >>https://t.co/f9SinT1McT pic.twitter.com/3ZqzrNP8qO
— Notimex (@Notimex) November 15, 2018
Some weren't entirely convinced they were real...
why these sheep look like they bout to drop the hottest mixtape of 2018 pic.twitter.com/e2o5TrahWu
— oxygenplug (@oxygenplug) November 15, 2018
Making its breed world debut in New Zealand, Valais blacknose Sheep (yes they are real) pic.twitter.com/dgYGygsnxA
— Oregon I.T. not IT ⚾ (@OregonJOBS2) November 15, 2018
The story reached more than 45,000 website readers and 73,000 on RNZ's Facebook page, with thousands of likes and comments, and hundreds sharing the story.
The fluffy blacknose sheep (and their ankle socks) now have their own Reddit threads.
Breeding in New Zealand started relatively recently, with enthusiasts forming syndicates to import embryos from the UK, to start flocks here. But they're been bred in Switzerland for hundreds of years, the BBC says.
This is how to start your day #valaisblacknose #earlystart pic.twitter.com/EMZh4v6Cff
— Haig Murray (@HaigMurray) November 13, 2018
