Scientist 'Solves' Mystery Behind Sheep Walking In Circle For 12 Days In China

Out of the 34 pens, sheep kept in pen number 13 at the farm in China’s Inner Mongolia region were moving in a circle for twelve days

Group of sheep move in a circle for 12 days in China

Source : @PDChina/Twitter

Recently a video shared on the social media had gone viral in which a group of sheep were seen moving in a circle for twelve days in China’s Inner Mongolia region. In the CCTV footage one could see a large flock of sheep continuously marching clockwise in a nearly perfect circle on a farm.

The video of the incident was shared by Chinese state-run outlet People’s Daily on the micro-blogging site Twitter. While sharing the clip the media house said that the 'sheep are perfectly healthy and the cause of the behavior is a mystery'.

The great sheep mystery! Hundreds of sheep walk in a circle for over 10 days in N China's Inner Mongolia. The sheep are healthy and the reason for the weird behavior is still a mystery. pic.twitter.com/8Jg7yOPmGK

— People's Daily, China (@PDChina) November 16, 2022

However, a scientist claims to have solved the mystery behind the bizarre behaviour of the sheep. 

Matt Bell, a professor and director at the Department of Agriculture at Hartpury University, in Gloucester, England while speaking to the  Newsweek said, "It looks like the sheep are in the pen for long periods, and this might lead to stereotypic behavior, with the repeated circling due to frustration about being in the pen and limited [as to where they can go]. This is not good. Then the other sheep join as they are flock animals and bond or join their friends."

The sheep had reportedly been moving since November 4. It was also not known whether they paused to eat or drink. 

According to the sheep owner, identified as Ms Miao, the spectacle began with a few sheep before the whole flock joined in. Miao also said that out of the 34 pens, sheep kept in pen number 13 were acting weirdly, reported the New York Post.